Europe needs stronger cross-border cooperation, greater investment and faster procedures to protect its water resources and build resilient infrastructure, European, regional and local leaders stressed at the EPP-CoR External Cross-Border Group Meeting in Mikulov, Czechia, which concluded with the unanimous adoption of the Mikulov Declaration.
Hosted by Jan Zámečník, Deputy-Governor of the South Moravian Region, under the theme “Shared Water, Shared Future”, the meeting focused on turning Europe’s water-resilience ambitions into practical investments. Pointing to the impact of low rainfall on harvests in South Moravia and across Europe, Zámečník called for a clear plan to finance and build the infrastructure needed for future generations. He highlighted South Moravia’s own work to interconnect water-supply systems across regional borders, supported by European funds. With the region’s two principal water sources located outside its territory and around 650,000 people depending on the system, the project is replacing fragmented solutions with a robust, interconnected network designed to keep water flowing even during periods of severe drought.
Sari Rautio, President of the EPP-CoR Group, stressed that cooperation across borders is essential: “Like climate change, water knows no administrative nor national borders. Around 60% of Europe's river basins are shared by Member States. This shows that effective transboundary cooperation is no longer an option, but a genuine necessity.”
Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, highlighted cooperation between South Moravia and Lower Austria as an example for Europe. “Water does not stop at national borders, so the cooperation must be transboundary as well. You are developing practical solutions to practical problems, and this is exactly the kind of cross-border cooperation Europe needs more of,” she said, adding that the experience and expertise of cities and regions are “indispensable”.
Financing water resilience
Marek Mora, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), called on regions to move from isolated projects towards integrated investment programmes combining infrastructure renewal, leakage reduction, reuse, flood protection, natural water retention and digitalisation. “Water resilience must become a core infrastructure priority. The European Investment Bank is ready to help you shape these programmes, prepare them and finance them. Bring us your priorities early,” Mora said. The EIB aims to provide €15 billion in direct water financing between 2025 and 2027, expected to mobilise around €40 billion in investment globally.
Alexander Bernhuber MEP called for long-term investment and much faster procedures: “Water is not only an agricultural issue. It is essential for households, industry, energy and many other sectors. The last thing we should allow is a conflict between different users of water. We need long-term planning and investment now, with solutions adapted to different regional realities. And if we want to invest in water-resilience infrastructure, we need to act faster. We cannot afford to wait 15 or 20 years for authorisation before we can start building.”
Paul Rübig, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee, highlighted the need for better planning, financing, water reuse, innovation and investment in European water technologies. His message was clear: “We already have enough aspirations. What we still lack is implementation.”
Cities delivering solutions
Joining from Brussels, Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon and EPP-CoR member, shared the key outcomes of the launch of the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform and European Water Academy, where he represented the European Committee of the Regions. He stressed the need to put cities and regions at the centre of water innovation, use digitalisation and interoperable data to improve decision-making, and dramatically improve water efficiency and reuse. He also highlighted the potential of the new European Water Academy to connect existing expertise, networks, start-ups and innovative solutions across Europe rather than creating new structures from scratch. He pointed to Lisbon as an example of local action. The city is constructing major tunnels to protect its centre from flooding, alongside reservoirs allowing water to be stored and reused. Lisbon is also developing its Water Plus system to reduce the use of drinking-quality water for purposes such as cleaning streets and watering gardens.
The meeting concluded with the unanimous adoption of the Mikulov Declaration, setting out the EPP-CoR’s priorities for strengthening Europe’s water resilience through investment, territorial and cross-border cooperation, and a stronger role for cities and regions.