The Green Deal Going Local Working Group of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) convened to address one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: building water resilience across cities and regions.
Markku Markkula, President of the Helsinki Region in Finland and Chair of the Green Deal Going Local Working Group, underlined the urgency of the issue, framing water resilience as a cornerstone of the EU’s green and digital transition: “Water is an essential resource for people, nature and the economy to thrive. Historically it has been a key pillar of social cohesion and a driver of economic development. But in recent years, the human–water relationship has been shifting. Climate change and environmental pressure are limiting access to clean and safe water, while floods, landslides and sea-level rise are intensifying, with devastating consequences for people and nature.”
He noted that Europe has faced record droughts causing €40 billion in losses in 2022, while floods inflicted €44 billion in damages in 2021. At the same time, outdated infrastructure loses 25% of treated water on average, with some Member States reporting losses above 50%.
“These figures highlight that water resilience is not only an environmental necessity but also a matter of competitiveness, social justice, and security. Through the Green Deal Going Local initiative, we are working to ensure that cities and regions are empowered to translate these complex challenges into effective, locally driven policies.”
Åsa Ågren Wikström, Regional councillor of Västerbotten and member of the Green Deal Going Local Working Group, stressed that the upcoming Water Resilience Strategy must be both ambitious and inclusive: “Firstly, the Strategy must reflect the diversity of Europe’s regions and cities — their different environmental conditions, their local economies, and their social realities. The Strategy should be flexible and inclusive, not a one-size-fits-all solution imposed from the top.”
She added that Europe must move towards a water-smart economy: “We must build an economy that leaves no one behind — one that supports competitiveness, attracts investment, and applies the principle of water efficiency across all sectors. Clean and affordable water must be guaranteed for everyone, empowering consumers and users alike to make responsible choices. Water resilience must be recognized as a strategic objective, comparable with decarbonization, climate adaptation, and energy efficiency.”
Finally, Ågren Wikström emphasised the importance of adequate and accessible funding: “European funds should be accessible in a simple and direct way. But public investment alone is not enough — we must also engage and encourage private investors to take part in the water transition.”
Background
The Green Deal Going Local is a flagship initiative of the CoR, launched in 2020 to place cities and regions at the heart of the EU’s transition to climate neutrality. It aims to promote multilevel governance, support cross-sectoral collaboration, and ensure that no region is left behind in Europe’s green transformation.
The Green Deal Going Local Working Group, composed of 14 local and regional politicians from across Europe, acts as the political heart of the CoR’s flagship initiative. It ensures coordination across climate, energy, and environmental policy areas and promotes a systemic transformation towards climate neutrality.