Sittings · Document

OPINION (2024/2104(INI)) 2025-03-28

On the European Water Resilience Strategy

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Michal Wiezik

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AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development submits the following to the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, as the committee responsible:

Amendment 1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to Directive 2009/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters1a,

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1a OJ L 164, 26.6.2009, p. 45.

Amendment 2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 32 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture,

Amendment 3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 32 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to European Court of Auditors’ special report 20/2024 of 1 October 2024, entitled ‘Common Agricultural Policy Plans – Greener, but not matching the EU’s ambitions for the climate and the environment’,

Amendment 4

Motion for a resolution

Recital A a (new)

Motion for resolution

Amendment

Aa. whereas water is the basis of ecosystems and therefore fundamental to agricultural production;

Amendment 5

Motion for a resolution

Recital A b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ab. whereas water is the basis of life and is also an irreplaceable resource for agriculture in the production of high-quality food and animal feed, for crop yields and livestock rearing, as well as for renewable raw materials in sufficient quantities;

Amendment 6

Motion for a resolution

Recital A c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ac. whereas water is an essential resource for agriculture; whereas farmers are particularly affected by extreme weather events such as droughts and floods;

Amendment 7

Motion for a resolution

Recital A d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ad. whereas there is a need for more effective integration at the European level of water management and the development of integrated strategies that ensure a sustainable and coordinated approach;

Amendment 8

Motion for a resolution

Recital A e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ae. whereas farmers have a primary role in improving habitat conditions and restoring ecosystems by managing water resources sustainably;

Amendment 9

Motion for a resolution

Recital A f (new)

Motion for resolution

Amendment

Af. whereas, according to European Environment Agency report 07/204, Europe’s water is under significant pressure, resulting in risks related to efficiency, scarcity, pollution and water events, such as flooding and droughts; whereas the EU urgently needs to improve water resilience, which would have a positive impact on the quality of human health, food production and the environment, including agricultural ecosystems;

Amendment 10

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas water stress is already occurring in Europe, affecting 20 % of Europe’s territory and 30 % of the population on average every year, figures that are likely to increase in the future on account of climate change20; whereas European Environment Agency report 07/204 has found that isolated events in recent years, such as the drought and heatwave that affected the entire European continent, have cost up to EUR 40 billion, that the 2021 flood in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands caused EUR 44 billion in damage, and that without climate mitigation and adaptation measures, direct damage caused by floods is estimated to increase sixfold as compared with current losses by the end of the century (with the associated economic cost being estimated at EUR 9 billion annually); whereas the number and recurrence of extreme weather events such as droughts and floods have grown, and are forecast to increase in the near future, as has the risk they pose to human life, agricultural activity and EU food sovereignty;

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20 European Environment Agency, report 07/2024, Europe’s state of water 2024. The need for improved water resilience, 2024.

Amendment 11

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ba. whereas global population growth requires increased food production, and the EU must guarantee food sovereignty, as laid down in Article 39 TFEU; whereas the effects of climate change in the Union make it increasingly necessary to compensate for drought through sustainable irrigation, infrastructures providing new water resources and the modernisation of sustainable irrigation to reduce the water footprint;

Amendment 12

Motion for a resolution

Recital B b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Bb. whereas heat stress and drought already negatively affect European crop production, especially in southern Europe, where the risk severity is currently, and in the medium and long term, assessed to be critical1a;

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1a European Environment Agency report 01/2024, European Climate Risk Assessment, 11 March 2024.

Amendment 13

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C. whereas the deadline set by the Water Framework Directive (WFD) for European rivers, lakes, transitional, coastal and groundwaters to achieve ‘good’ status was 2015; whereas in 2021, only 37 % of Europe’s surface water bodies achieved ‘good’ or ‘high’ ecological status, while 29 % achieved ‘good’ chemical status21;

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21 Ibid.

Amendment 14

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ca. whereas the Commission report of 4 February 2025 on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the Floods Directive (2007/60/EC)1a states that ‘[f]reshwater and marine ecosystems are interconnected’ as ‘[r]iverine pollution, disruption to sediment flows and water shortages all have a very strong impact on the health of marine ecosystems, particularly the coastal ones, and the viability of social and economic activities that depend on them, such as transport, fisheries, aquaculture or tourism’;

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1a COM(2025)0002.

Amendment 15

Motion for a resolution

Recital C b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Cb. whereas, regarding the chemical status of surface water, the EEA stresses that much of the pollution can be attributed to long-lived pollutants, such as mercury and brominated flame retardants; whereas, according to EEA Report 07/2024, if these long-lived pollutants were not considered, 80 % of surface waters would achieve good chemical status, as opposed to 29 %;

Amendment 16

Motion for a resolution

Recital C c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Cc. whereas the WFD did not adequately address the drought affecting certain European regions, especially in the south of the continent;

Amendment 17

Motion for a resolution

Recital C d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Cd. whereas the WFD did not sufficiently address the growing severity and frequency of droughts, which are increasingly affecting various parts of Europe, including northern regions;

Amendment 18

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for resolution

Amendment

Da. whereas, under Directive (EU) 2024/1203 on the protection of the environment through criminal law1a, the abstraction of surface water or groundwater within the meaning of Directive 2000/60/EC constitutes a criminal offence where such conduct is unlawful and intentional, and causes, or is likely to cause, substantial damage to the ecological status or the ecological potential of surface water bodies or to the quantitative status of groundwater bodies;

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1a OJ L, 2024/1203, 30.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1203/oj.

Amendment 19

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E. whereas agriculture is the most significant source of pressure on both surface and groundwater, as a result of water use and pollution from the intensive use of nutrients and pesticides; whereas agriculture is the largest net consumer of water in the EU23;

deleted

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23 European Environment Agency, report 07/2024, Europe’s state of water 2024. The need for improved water resilience, 2024.

Amendment 20

Motion for a resolution

Recital H

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

H. whereas groundwater supplies 65 % of water for drinking and 25 % of water for agricultural irrigation in the EU; whereas it is a finite resource that needs to be protected from pollution and over-exploitation26;

H. whereas groundwater supplies 65 % of water for drinking and 25 % of water for agricultural irrigation in the EU and is a resource that requires appropriate management; whereas groundwater management must guarantee the sustainability of Europe’s agricultural production and food sovereignty;

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26 Ibid.

Amendment 21

Motion for a resolution

Recital J

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

J. whereas occurrences of prolonged drought, extreme heat and large-scale flooding events will increase throughout the continent, damaging ecosystems and human health, and leading to major disruption to economic activities; whereas preserving water resources and the natural flow of rivers while supplying sufficient water of good quality is becoming a major challenge;

J. whereas, in the context of climate change, occurrences of prolonged drought, heatwaves, extreme temperatures and large-scale flooding events will become more variable and irregular throughout the continent, damaging ecosystems and human health, and leading to major disruption to economic activities such as agricultural production; whereas preserving water resources and the natural flow of rivers while supplying sufficient water of good quality is becoming a major challenge in a large part of the territory of the Member States, which will require a growing effort to increase water availability through reuse (reclaimed water) and desalination of seawater, where feasible, as well as the search for new water solutions and sources;

Amendment 22

Motion for a resolution

Recital L a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

La. whereas, in the framework of the EU’s new priorities for the upcoming MFF 2028-2034, structural policies such as the CAP have seen an increase in the number of objectives and actions under their umbrella, while their share of the EU budget has been maintained or even reduced;

Amendment 23

Motion for a resolution

Recital L b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Lb. whereas currently there are no financial provisions in place to fund measures envisaged under the Nature Restoration Regulation;

Amendment 24

Motion for a resolution

Recital M

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

M. whereas pricing policy can improve the efficiency of water use; whereas pricing policies should consider affordability for households and small businesses;

M. whereas pricing policy can improve the efficiency of water use; whereas pricing policies should consider affordability for households and small businesses and for EU regions in which a chronic shortage of water use has set in, as well as the socio-economic returns from the various uses;

Amendment 25

Motion for a resolution

Recital N

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

N. whereas digitalisation and innovation can effectively assist Member States, regional bodies and the Commission in collecting data on and monitoring water management;

N. whereas digitalisation, artificial intelligence and innovation can effectively assist Member States, regional bodies and the Commission in collecting data on water management;

Amendment 26

Motion for a resolution

Recital N a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Na. whereas water resilience will be crucial in education, teaching and raising awareness, and in providing information about the functioning of the water cycle;

Amendment 27

Motion for a resolution

Recital N b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Nb. whereas the limited access to water and related infrastructure has a negative impact on women in particular, as it undermines the realisation of other human rights, such as self-determination, economic independence and education;

Amendment 28

Motion for a resolution

Recital O a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Oa. whereas there is a special scheme governing mineral waters and limits are already in place for the sustainable exploitation of springs for human consumption; whereas mineral waters ensure the supply of drinking water in coastal regions, in areas affected by natural disasters and in areas where no other source of drinking water is temporarily or permanently available;

Amendment 29

Motion for a resolution

Recital O b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ob. whereas there is a special regime governing mineral waters and the existing limits for the sustainable exploitation of springs for human consumption; whereas mineral waters ensure the supply of drinking water in coastal regions, in areas affected by natural disasters, as well as in regions where no other source of drinking water is temporarily or permanently available;

Amendment 30

Motion for a resolution

Recital O c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Oc. whereas the role of international cooperation in water resource management is an effective tool for generating peace outcomes;

Amendment 31

Motion for a resolution

Recital O d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Od. whereas inequalities in access to the human right to water can be counterproductive to peace and social stability;

Amendment 32

Motion for a resolution

Recital O e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Oe. whereas the increasing water scarcity, inequalities in access to water and external shocks to the water sector have heightened interdependencies, increasing competition for water and having complex economic repercussions;

Amendment 33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Welcomes and strongly supports President von der Leyen’s announcement in the Political Guidelines for the Next Commission 2024-2029 on putting forward a European Water Resilience Strategy (EWRS);

1. Supports President von der Leyen’s announcement in the Political Guidelines for the Next Commission 2024-2029 on putting forward a European Water Resilience Strategy (EWRS);

Amendment 34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Calls for a full implementation of EU Green Deal legislation in order to build a resilient Europe, mitigate climate change, halt biodiversity loss and limit resource use, including water;

2. Stresses that current legislation should be adapted to current and future challenges and calls for incentives to promote adaptation to climate change and biodiversity; calls for progress in the implementation of EU legislation and in line with the priorities set out in the EU Competitiveness Compass, in order to build a resilient and competitive Europe, ensure adequate and regular water resources for agriculture, and to ensure food security and sovereignty in the EU, mitigate and adapt to climate change, halt biodiversity loss, improve soil quality and reduce resource use, including water, which is needed for a future-proof, competitive and productive sector; highlights that water availability impacts the quantity, quality, variety and seasonal availability of foods that can be produced;

Amendment 35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to prioritise enhancing water cooperation between water suppliers and farmers over further regulatory actions, and to promote information, training and expanded advisory programmes that are easily accessible and free, in order to raise public awareness with regard to sustainable water resource management and promote training programmes in the responsible use of water resources; highlights that this must be accompanied by an adequate level of funding and pragmatic implementation instruments, as well as by adequate adaptation to risk due to climate change, with sufficient incentives for all farmers;

Amendment 36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2b. Demands that any water-saving strategy include an awareness that it is important to retain more of the available water in the farmed landscape and in creating phytopurification pathways; stresses that, in this regard, greater cooperation from local and regional authorities is needed to provide storage capacity for collecting water during heavy rainfall and roof water from industrial buildings and distribution centres to bring back water to drought-prone areas and ensure adequate ecological flow; calls for a strategy to establish a water hierarchy, where the public water supply for drinking water purposes, including for households, is given top priority, and farmers’ access to water is given priority over other water uses in terms of security of supply; considers it important for the social and economic cohesion of many EU rural regions and their communities that the socioeconomic impact of water use be taken into account; highlights, in this regard, the need for reliable, comparable data, including from earth observations, in order to assess and model the hydrological efficiency of irrigation systems and detect water stress;

Amendment 37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Reiterates the EU 2030 target to restore freshwater ecosystems, including the restoration and re-establishment of areas, the restoration of habitats of species and the non-deterioration of the areas after restoration, as well as the EU’s objective to restore at least 25 000 km of free-flowing rivers by 2030;

delete

Amendment 38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Emphasises that the right to clean and safe water and sanitation must be unequivocally ensured, with every EU citizen having access to affordable and good quality water services;

4. Emphasises that the right to clean and safe water for food and hygiene must be unequivocally ensured, with every EU citizen having access to affordable and good quality water services;

Amendment 39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Urges the Commission to integrate the water dimension into all EU policies in order to ensure that water sustainability is woven into the fabric of European policies; emphasises that assessing how each EU policy can impact water resources in terms of quantity, quality and accessibility would ensure that water resilience is a cornerstone of policy formulation and implementation, thus shifting the paradigm from treating water as an infinite resource to recognising its intrinsic value for humanity and the EU’s ecological and socio-economic landscape;

5. Urges the Commission to fully integrate the strategic management of water into all EU policies, in order to ensure safe and sustainable access to this resource; emphasises that assessing the impact of European policies on water resources must include not only environmental considerations but also economic and social ones in order to ensure agricultural and food sovereignty, agricultural competitiveness and the economic resilience of territories; insists on the importance of recognising water as a precious resource that must be managed in a balanced way, reconciling protection, storage and use optimisation to respond to the vital needs of citizens, undertakings and farmers;

Amendment 40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5a. Emphasises the role that soils and biodiversity can play in retaining water and for effective groundwater recharge, for example by promoting practices such as permanent vegetation cover; calls for the development of incentive mechanisms to promote conservation and optimisation of water resources in the soil; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the CAP strategic plans are made water resilient, taking into account the cost-effectiveness of preventive measures; notes that investment will be needed outside of the CAP and that new budgetary resources must be found to ensure water resilience;

Amendment 41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5b. Calls on the Commission to propose, within the upcoming EWRS, incentives to further improve water aspects of agricultural production and its resilience; notes current CAP funding for measures to increase water efficiency; calls on the Commission to monitor and publish information on the use of available EU funds relevant for regions experiencing water scarcity;

Amendment 42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5c

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5c. Highlights the need to continue funding investments in the modernisation and development of resilient and efficient irrigation systems, given the crucial role they play in reducing water consumption; calls for further incentivisation of agricultural practices that improve soil water retention, and for agroforestry practices, which should be rewarded as part of the climate adaptation strategy; emphasises that additional funding will be necessary; calls for the exchange of best practices in agroforestry between practitioners and administrations; highlights the need to simplify procedures for accessing funding for irrigation within the CAP rules;

Amendment 43

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Water efficiency

Efficiency and innovative water use to increase water availability

Amendment 44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Calls for a transformative reduction in water demand, as well as an increase in water availability in water-stressed areas for all sectors at the local and regional level;

6. Calls for sustainable measures to reduce water demand and increase water availability, particularly for agriculture, in water-stressed areas for all sectors at the local and regional level, in particular by increasing the capacity to cope with a new climate with more pronounced fluctuations, the reuse of reclaimed water and the desalination of seawater; recognises the need for financial resources as a priority for European areas exposed to drought; calls for investments in research, development and innovation projects to achieve this reduction in demand through the development and implementation of, among other things, new irrigation techniques, plant breeding, new biological and low-risk pesticides, modernisation of water infrastructure, and the maintenance and use of advanced technologies for the early detection of leaks;

Amendment 45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6a. Highlights the fact that, on average, 23 %1a of treated water is wasted; points out that priority should be given to reducing leakage and to ensuring efficient water use in distribution networks by improving infrastructure, implementing technologies to enable early detection of losses and optimising water transport and storage systems;

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1a European Commission: Directorate-General for Environment, ‘Poorly Managed Water’ (https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/water-wise-eu/poorly-managed-water_en)’.

Amendment 46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6b. Stresses that the challenges surrounding water resilience vary from Member State to Member State and from region to region, and that the EWRS should allow for tailored solutions and national, regional and local water management and thus consist solely of non-legislative measures; opposes, therefore, the creation of new EU legislation concerning water resilience;

Amendment 47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6c. Emphasises the importance of plant breeding to develop crops that are more efficient in their use of water and better able to adapt to extreme climatic events, such as heat waves and prolonged periods of drought; calls, therefore, for the promotion of new genomic techniques (NGTs), recognising that biotechnological innovation plays a key role in creating varieties that are more resilient to drought and water scarcity; emphasises that these innovations can contribute to the sustainability of agricultural production, promoting food security in the face of the challenges of climate change;

Amendment 48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Calls for a legislative framework setting binding sectoral water efficiency and water abstraction targets at basin level, based on up-to-date assessments of climate risks and covering all water uses, including industry, agriculture and households; stresses the importance of efficient data collection practices across Member States and all sectors, including through the use of innovative technologies;

7. Calls for a strategy that, taking into account the efforts and measures already implemented and the water consumption reductions already achieved, sets sectoral water efficiency and water abstraction targets at basin level, based on up-to-date assessments of climate risks and covering all water uses, and stresses the importance of efficient data collection practices across Member States and sectors, including through the use of innovative technologies and solutions to improve water availability; stresses that the strategic importance of food production must not be compromised; emphasises that science, research and technology are important for water efficiency and water use as well as for the circular economy in this regard; calls for the creation and promotion of new smart and high-performance irrigation systems, rainwater retention and water from reuse, as well as water-efficient irrigation systems;

Amendment 49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7a. Urges the Commission to establish specific monitoring mechanisms for the human right to access water and sanitation services, which are increasingly threatened by frequent extreme events caused by climate change, such as droughts and floods, requiring urgent interventions;

Amendment 50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7b. Stresses the need to put in place a clear legal framework to prevent projects that have been authorised from being systematically challenged, creating legal uncertainty for farmers and the regions;

Amendment 51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Calls for the transition to a sustainable farming model, assisted by the implementation of innovative technological solutions than can help ensure continued productivity while enabling agriculture to reduce pollution and adapt to lower water use;

8. Calls for the promotion of competitive farming models, assisted by the implementation of innovative solutions, such as NGTs, or technology such as drip feed irrigation, that help to ensure continued productivity in agriculture while enabling the sector to reduce water use and ensuring stability in yields, continuous production and farmers’ income in the context of climate change adaptation; considers that technological solutions can also include measures that can increase water absorption, infiltration and retention in agricultural systems, which are important amid increasing occurrences of both drought and heavy rains;

Amendment 52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8a. Points to the success of the EIP-AGRI Focus Group Agroforestry and calls for the continuation of knowledge exchange, expertise and peer-to-peer learning via the EU CAP Network;

Amendment 53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8b. Stresses that controlled-environment agriculture, such as greenhouse horticulture, has made great efforts in water efficiency and the reuse of surplus water from third parties after treatment;

Amendment 54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8c. Recalls that in countries with a Mediterranean climate, where the driest season coincides with the hottest, irrigation is a traditional practice, essential for ensuring agricultural viability; highlights, however, that water scarcity for agriculture presents a global challenge for farming across the EU, given forecasts indicating an increase in the frequency, duration and severity of droughts across most parts of Europe;

Amendment 55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8d. Calls for awareness-raising and capacity-building campaigns for farmers, accompanied by training and awareness-raising actions, to ensure that farmers have the necessary knowledge and tools to enable them to use water resources efficiently;

Amendment 56

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8e. Underlines the potential of new technologies to encompass more efficient water management practices, in particular with regard to monitoring water consumption, assessing soil and plant moisture, and monitoring weather conditions, and to devising innovative approaches to precision farming and information and communication technologies; stresses that the adoption of new technologies will require investment, training and knowledge-sharing programmes to help farmers adapt to these practices and enhance their ability to make informed decisions, promoting sustainability in water use;

Amendment 57

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Calls on the Commission and Member States to adopt supportive policies, at both the EU and the local level, that incentivise water reuse practices through economic regulation, environmental protection requirements or a combination of both;

9. Points out that water reuse can contribute to more sustainable resource utilisation, in particular under water scarcity conditions; calls on the Commission and Member States to adopt supportive policies for a multifunctional approach to water management, taking into account the water footprint, at both the EU and the local level, that incentivise water reuse practices for non-potable purposes;

Amendment 58

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9a. Calls for the promotion of innovative technological solutions that can help to ensure continued productivity in agriculture and highlights the fact that increased irrigation efficiency is in the wider public interest and should therefore continue to benefit from public funding; proposes the exploration of policy scenarios where increased efficiency stimulates water availability at river basin level;

Amendment 59

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9b. Notes that while legal tools exist to tackle illegal/unregulated water abstraction, many Member States rarely use them; expects measures to be proposed under the EWRS to enforce legal action against Member States that fail to tackle illegal water abstraction, including in agriculture;

Amendment 60

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Underlines the fact that the existing EU water policy framework is well designed to address the effective management of water resources and the protection and restoration of freshwater and marine ecosystems, but is poorly implemented, underfunded and barely enforced;

10. Underlines the fact that the existing EU water policy framework is designed to address the effective management of water resources and the protection and restoration of freshwater and marine ecosystems but fails in practice on account of poor implementation, insufficient funding, a lack of attention to regional specificities and inadequate cost-benefit analysis of the measures to be implemented; believes that the EWRS must also ensure that farming needs are met, taking into account the changing climatic conditions, while supporting the need for environmental protection;

Amendment 61

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11. Calls on the Commission and Member States to accelerate the implementation and enforcement of the current legislation, in particular the WFD and its ‘daughter’ directives (the Groundwater Directive and the Environmental Quality Standards Directive), the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the EU Nature Restoration Law;

11. Calls on the Commission and Member States to continue the implementation and enforcement of the current extensive legislation already in place, including the WFD and its ‘daughter’ directives (the Groundwater Directive and the Environmental Quality Standards Directive), and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive; calls for Member States to harmonise standard-setting for surface water quality for consistent reporting under EU legislation, to ensure comparability and a level playing field; highlights the need for increased testing and data collection to minimise the risk of contamination and to reduce risks, such as antimicrobial resistance;

Amendment 62

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11a. Acknowledges the significant efforts made by farmers to enhance water quality and emphasises the need for an appropriate timeframe to allow the effects of these measures to be accurately assessed; recalls the need for these legislative measures to have adequate funding that does not solely depend on other policies, such as the CAP, in order to achieve their objectives;

Amendment 63

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12. Calls on the Commission to establish comprehensive EU-wide quality standards for PFAS totals in groundwater and surface water;

12. Calls on the Commission to address pollution from PFAS, and to establish quality standards that ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment, in particular the health of farmers, farm workers and their families and communities, and to proportionally reduce their use in agriculture provided that there are alternatives available;

Amendment 64

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Emphasises the urgency of addressing pollution from pharmaceuticals, bisphenols and other emerging pollutants to align with the EU’s zero pollution ambition and the goal of achieving good chemical status for all water bodies;

13. Calls for a better-targeted use of pesticides, provided that safe and effective alternatives are available on the market, including as part of integrated pest management and to optimise the use of plant protection products; highlights, in this regard, the need for a broad toolkit to be available in the EU, including conventional and biological control approaches and pesticides, to ensure crop health and agricultural activity; calls for scaling up existing alternatives and stimulating access to and the development of new ones, including through cooperation with farmers, and for facilitating their registration and certification and promoting knowledge transfer on the alternatives available; notes the progress made using an integrated production approach in reducing pesticide use so as to prevent pests from developing resistance that makes pest control more challenging; emphasises the need to achieve good chemical status for water bodies; underlines the costs of cleaning up water pollution on account of increasing water scarcity;

Amendment 65

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13a. Recalls that the use of nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate is essential for food production, as this activity would not be possible without their use; calls on the Commission to propose an integrated nutrient management action plan to effectively address the loss of valuable agricultural inputs, recycling of nutrients, nutrient pollution and inefficiencies in the nutrient cycle; suggests that with respect to critical raw materials such as phosphorus, objectives in relation to reuse and recycling should be considered; calls for the proper and safe recovery of phosphorus from organic sources and for incentivising investments in its recovery and circular nutrient management in accordance with the Commission’s JRC publication1a;

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1a European Commission JRC Science for Policy Report, ‘Technical proposals for the safe use of processed manure above the threshold established for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones by the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC)’, 2020.

Amendment 66

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Calls for increased monitoring of pesticide residues in water bodies and stricter enforcement of pesticide application regulations to mitigate their impact on water quality;

14. Calls for the correct application of the current regulation on the monitoring of residues in water bodies and for legislation related to polluting hazardous substances, as well as for more training programmes for farmers and other operators to mitigate the impact of these substances on water quality, including the exchange of best practices in water resource usage; stresses that urban wastewater is also a source of water pollution if not properly collected and treated; emphasises that the requirements of the Urban Wastewater Directive should not be lowered and its implementation should not be delayed; reiterates the importance of data collection and monitoring in respect of soils in support of relevant water resilience objectives;

Amendment 67

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Calls on the Commission to include an overview of measures in an annex to the EWRS, with a clear timeline for achieving the objectives in question;

deleted

Amendment 68

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15a. Stresses that the current Nitrates Directive is due for revision, as outdated provisions promote the use of artificial fertilisers rather than organic manure; calls for an urgent review of the Nitrates Directive before the end of this year, and its revision to promote circular nutrient management;

Amendment 69

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15b. Invites the Commission to take account of the fact that every measure must be budgeted, in order to ensure that goals are met;

Amendment 70

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16. Calls for climate adaptation proofing of all new EU legislative and non-legislative acts in order to ensure the integration of climate adaptation into sectoral plans and policy measures affecting water and land use; calls on the Commission to fully take into account the specific situation of islands and peripheral regions when adopting new legislative and non-legislative proposals;

16. Calls for climate adaptation and EU competitiveness objective-proofing of all new EU legislative and non-legislative acts in order to ensure the integration of climate adaptation and policies which ensure producers’ competitiveness and EU strategic autonomy into sectoral plans and policy measures affecting water; calls on the Commission to fully take into account the specific situation of islands, peripheral regions and outermost regions when adopting new legislative and non-legislative proposals;

Amendment 71

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

17. Reiterates that climate adaptation solutions should not come at the cost of ecosystem degradation and should avoid increasing the demand for water- and energy-intensive activities, whether by expanding existing operations or introducing new ones, while ensuring equitable access to water for all;

17. Reiterates that climate adaptation strategies and solutions should not come at the cost of ecosystem degradation but should rather ensure the continuation of agricultural activity and ensure equitable access to water for all; points out, in this regard, the possibilities of synergies with innovative energy production such as photovoltaics and biogas, which can also contribute to increasing agricultural income;

Amendment 72

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18. Insists that, with climate change impacts becoming more persistent, flood and drought management must fully integrate arising risks; is convinced that a combination of prevention, emergency and recovery responses on the one hand, and adapting societal and economic activities and land management practices on the other, is essential to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience; highlights the need to take into account the impact of extreme climate events in the design of infrastructure in order for it to be climate resilient;

Amendment 73

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19. Calls on Member States to create natural water reserves based on up-to-date assessments of climate risks to protect critical water supplies and their catchments, and taking into consideration the environmental impact of developing such reserves;

19. Insists that the agricultural sector be further supported in implementing new technologies to reduce the demand for water, while at the same time increasing access to water, including by supporting water retention and groundwater recharge; calls for research results, for example on seawater desalination, to be made accessible and to facilitate the deployment of innovative desalination solutions; calls on Member States to create water reserves, including by reusing waste water, based on up-to-date assessments of climate risks to protect and ensure critical water supplies, particularly for public water supplies and agriculture, and taking into consideration the environmental, social and economic impact of developing such reserves; notes that desalinisation is currently a costly option, and thus calls for research and innovation to decrease the costs;

Amendment 74

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19a. Emphasises the need to modernise obsolete irrigation systems and recalls the available EU funding, which envisages water saving in this regard; points out the need to prioritise the water infrastructure in drought-prone regions, taking into account specific territorial features; highlights the need to promote cross-border plans for shared river basin management;

Amendment 75

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19b. Emphasises that healthy ecosystems and sustainable forest management are better equipped to overcome environmental stressors; underlines the importance of appropriate forest management, in particular the promotion of native deciduous tree species, trees with a broad canopy and measures to protect forest soil and humus formation, all of which can reduce drought stress; also calls, in this context, for primary and old-growth forests to be defined and urgently mapped in accordance with the Commission’s guidelines, since they have a demonstrably greater capacity to conserve water than secondary forests1a;

_________________

1a Definition according to Commission staff working document of 20 March 2023 entitled ‘Commission Guidelines for Defining, Mapping, Monitoring and Strictly Protecting EU Primary and Old-Growth forests’ (SWD(9203)0062); see also Sun, Zeyu, ‘A healthier water use strategy in primitive forests contributes to stronger water conservation capabilities compared with secondary forests’, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 851, Part 2, 10 December 2022.

Amendment 76

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20. Affirms the crucial cross-cutting role of nature-based solutions in addressing the challenges of the triple planetary crisis; calls on the Commission and Member States to prioritise the deployment of nature-based solutions for water resilience in their policy actions and recommendations;

20. Highlights the relevant role that effective, sustainable and fact-based solutions, including nature-based solutions suited to each zone and ecosystem, can play in addressing the challenges of water resilience; calls on the Commission and Member States to prioritise the deployment of effective, sustainable and fact-based solutions, including nature-based solutions for water resilience, in their policy actions and recommendations as long as they offer sufficient guarantees, while at the same time considering a mix of measures combining infrastructure and actions that enable greater water resilience;

Amendment 77

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20a. Notes the role of forests and other ecosystems, such as wetlands and peatlands, in enhancing water resilience and improving watershed resilience; highlights the need, in this regard, for more research, data collection, innovation and funding to support land managers in preventing the impacts of environmental stressors such as drought, floods and diminishing watershed function;

Amendment 78

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20b. Notes the links between carbon sinking and water availability, and calls for coherence between the EWRS and carbon farming schemes;

Amendment 79

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21. Emphasises that the EWRS should ensure adequate funding from public and private sources in order to support resilient water infrastructure, sustainable water management, data collection, research, nature-based solutions and the uptake of water-efficient technologies, as well as to uphold nature restoration and biodiversity;

21. Emphasises that the EWRS should close the funding gap and ensure adequate funding from public and private sources in order to develop and support resilient water infrastructure, address drought and flood emergencies, foster sustainable water management, increase the retention of water in agricultural ecosystems, and support data collection, research, the finding of sustainable solutions and the take up of water-efficient technologies, while upholding nature conservation and biodiversity and bearing in mind the three pillars to ensure economic, social and environmental sustainability in line with the goals set by the new EU Competitiveness Compass;

Amendment 80

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22. Calls on the Commission to create a separate and dedicated fund as a single EU access point for water resilience within the upcoming MFF;

22. Calls on the Commission to create a separate and dedicated fund for water resilience within the upcoming MFF; believes that specific financial mechanisms should be considered within the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund to support water infrastructure projects; highlights the fact that the participation of the European Investment Bank and other financial institutions in the financing of water infrastructure should be encouraged, by facilitating favourable conditions for investments in innovation, digitalisation and efficiency in water management; calls for the earmarking of funding under the ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ mission of the Horizon Europe programme and for specific calls to be made focusing on solutions for the availability of sufficient fresh water for food production;

Amendment 81

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22a. Calls for targeted funding via Horizon and AGRI_EIP for field trials on the water relations of different cropping systems; calls for the recognition of the role of women in water policies and for identifying specific funding to promote their access to agriculture;

Amendment 82

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22b. Calls on the Commission to establish new, dedicated funding mechanisms for the implementation of the Nature Restoration Law, ensuring that financial support for environmental objectives does not come at the expense of the already stretched CAP budget; considers that farmers must be supported, not burdened, in delivering on sustainability;

Amendment 83

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22c. Calls on the Commission to strengthen solidarity funds to support household and businesses affected by extreme weather events, including floods and droughts; highlights that such solidarity mechanisms should be accessible and cut red tape to the extent possible;

Amendment 84

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22d. Calls on the Commission to ensure dedicated financial support in the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2028-2034 for the modernisation and development of intelligent, circular and water-efficient irrigation systems;

Amendment 85

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23. Recalls that the lack of a dedicated water funding line or binding funding targets within the current MFF limits the EU’s capacity to direct targeted investments towards essential water resilience measures and thus its competitive capacity, as the absence of a water balance creates an additional burden for the economy of the regions;

Amendment 86

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24. Regrets that the application of the cost recovery principle remains low to non-existent in several Member States; calls on Member States and their regional authorities to implement adequate water pricing policies that take account of the differences between different regions of the EU and the cost recovery principle as closely as possible, so as not to penalise regions in an established critical situation in terms of water and food security;

Amendment 87

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25. Stresses the potential of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in improving the management and monitoring of bodies of water;

25. Stresses the potential of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in improving the management and monitoring of bodies of water and the projection of scenarios that allow for the development of prevention plans;

Amendment 88

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25a. Urges the Commission and the Member States to undertake initiatives aimed at integrating water cycle education into school curricula; recognises the value of water education in promoting generational renewal in the agricultural sector;

Amendment 89

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Calls on the Commission, Member States and water providers to mainstream digitalisation and enhance the use of management and metering data for evidence-based decision-making at both the regulatory and consumption level; calls for digitally enabled water technologies to enable distance monitoring and reporting on water quality, leakages, use and resources;

26. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and water providers to mainstream transparency and digitalisation as fundamental principles in water management, with the aim of strengthening monitoring, assessment and accountability; calls for improved efficiency in the use of public funds and in public spending in this area; calls for digitally enabled water technologies that contribute to transparency and objectivity in water management, to enable distance monitoring and reporting on water quality, leakages, use and resources;

Amendment 90

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase the involvement of women in decisions regarding water resilience; calls for the adoption of a methodological approach that effectively considers gender-related needs in the implementation of water supply projects, by implementing monitoring, reporting and tracking that use tools and indicators disaggregated by gender;

Amendment 91

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

27a. Emphasises that specific programmes should be established for the cleaning and conservation of river channels, ensuring adequate flow and reducing the accumulation of debris and sediment that can affect water storage and distribution capacity;

Amendment 92

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Protection and development of water infrastructure

Amendment 93

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

28. Stresses the need for a comprehensive EWRS that fosters cross-border cooperation, ensuring sustainable water management and equitable resource distribution among Member States;

28. Stresses the need for a comprehensive EWRS that fosters cross-border cooperation, ensuring water management and effective and sustainable resource distribution among Member States;

Amendment 94

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

29. Calls for enhanced international cooperation, including at the level of river basins, to address the growing water crisis, ensure clean and high-quality water, promote sustainable water management and implement nature-based solutions;

Amendment 95

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

29a. Urges the Commission to implement a specific diplomatic role dedicated to resolving water-related conflicts, promoting water cooperation and protecting water sources and systems, particularly during armed conflicts and in transboundary contexts;

Amendment 96

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

30. Urges the EU to lead international efforts to protect and restore water ecosystems, in line with the WFD, the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the European Green Deal;

deleted

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for the opinion received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

Edelman Public Relations Worldwide

European Federation of National Associations of Water Services (EurEau)

European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

The Nature Conservancy

Wetlands International Europe

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for opinion in his capacity as rapporteur for opinion.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion in his capacity as rapporteur for opinion declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted

27.3.2025

Result of final vote

–:

Members present for the final vote

Stefano Bonaccini, Daniel Buda, Waldemar Buda, Barry Cowen, Ivan David, Csaba Dömötör, Luke Ming Flanagan, Maria Grapini, Cristina Guarda, Martin Häusling, Stefan Köhler, Tomáš Kubín, Norbert Lins, Cristina Maestre, Dario Nardella, Maria Noichl, Bert-Jan Ruissen, Arash Saeidi, Eric Sargiacomo, Raffaele Stancanelli, Anna Strolenberg

Substitutes present for the final vote

Peter Agius, Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Benoit Cassart, Annalisa Corrado, Lena Düpont, Charles Goerens, Pär Holmgren, Ilia Lazarov, Gabriel Mato, Ciaran Mullooly, Elena Sancho Murillo, Francesco Ventola, Michal Wiezik

Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

Pascal Arimont, Stefano Cavedagna, Mélanie Disdier, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Virginie Joron, Ondřej Krutílek, András Tivadar Kulja, Jeroen Lenaers, Jüri Ratas, Julie Rechagneux, Andreas Schwab

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

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