On a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on promoting transnational governance on water in the interests of conflict prevention and peace

PA_NonLeg

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Development submits the following to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as the committee responsible:

Amendment 1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Commission communication of 4 June 2025 entitled ‘European Water Resilience Strategy’ (COM(2025)0280),

Amendment 2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 2 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Commission communication of 5 June 2025 entitled ‘The European Ocean Pact’ (COM(2025)0281),

Amendment 3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health report of 20 January 2026 entitled ‘Global Water Bankruptcy – Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era’,

Amendment 4

Motion for a resolution

Citation 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the EU human rights guidelines of 17 June 2019 on safe drinking water and sanitation,

Amendment 5

Motion for a resolution

Citation 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 4 December 2024 entitled ‘Water Politics: Empowering Youth, Women, and Indigenous and Local Communities’1a,

_________________________

1a OJ C, C/2025/769, 11.2.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/769/oj.

Amendment 6

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas water is essential for the survival of humanity and all life on Earth and therefore needs to be managed sustainably and fairly;

A. whereas water is a global common good and a strategic security asset essential for the survival of humanity and all life on Earth and therefore needs to be managed sustainably and on the basis of the principles of social equity and solidarity; whereas it is also a key factor in poverty eradication, food security, health and sustainable development, and therefore essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda;

Amendment 7

Motion for a resolution

Recital A a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Aa. whereas universal, affordable and non-discriminatory access to water requires effective public policies for water services; whereas promoting responsible commercial stewardship and mitigating risks arising from market volatility is also important for ensuring water security; whereas universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is essential for human dignity, public health and sustainable development and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and should therefore be among the main priorities of the EU’s external action;

Amendment 8

Motion for a resolution

Recital A b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ab. whereas the average water wastage rate in the EU is between 20 % and 25 %, with peaks exceeding 40 %;

Amendment 9

Motion for a resolution

Recital A c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ac. whereas water scarcity has been identified as a likely and significant threat and can act as a risk multiplier; whereas water scarcity, a lack of sanitation, water pollution and inadequate water governance disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including women, children, indigenous peoples and rural communities, particularly in developing countries;

Amendment 10

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas access to water is a human right and a prerequisite for stability and peace;

B. whereas access to safe drinking water and sanitation is a human right and a prerequisite for stability and peace, as well as for economic growth, sustainable development, ecosystem resilience, agriculture and food security, health security, energy, social cohesion and national security; whereas access to water should be guaranteed without any form of discrimination;

Amendment 11

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ba. whereas inadequate water and sanitation services contribute significantly to the spread of preventable infectious diseases such as cholera, malaria and gastrointestinal diseases;

Amendment 12

Motion for a resolution

Recital B b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Bb. whereas around 4 billion people experience severe water scarcity for at least one month per year; whereas in 2024, 2.2 billion people still lacked access to safely managed drinking water, 3.4 billion people lacked access to safely managed sanitation, and 1.7 billion people lacked access to basic hygiene services at home1a;

_________________

1a SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/.

Amendment 13

Motion for a resolution

Recital B c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Bc. whereas climate change and water scarcity, as well as inadequate WASH services contribute significantly to the spread of preventable infectious diseases, such as diarrheal diseases, worm infections, cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and E, and poliomyelitis, and increase the risk of epidemic outbreaks; whereas waterborne diseases are a leading cause of child mortality globally, accounting for a substantial proportion of preventable deaths among children;

Amendment 14

Motion for a resolution

Recital B d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Bd. whereas women and girls are disproportionately affected by water scarcity because of gender-related health needs, social factors and because they are often responsible for water collection and management, especially in areas affected by conflicts and humanitarian crises, exposing them to health risks, loss of educational opportunities and heightened risks of gender-based violence; whereas a lack of adequate sanitation facilities in schools remains a major barrier to education for girls, particularly during menstruation, contributing to absenteeism and high school dropout rates; whereas access to water and sanitation that respects gender-related needs is, therefore, essential to advancing gender equality in line with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and to ensuring equal participation of women and girls in education, economic activities and community life;

Amendment 15

Motion for a resolution

Recital B e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Be. whereas investments in water and sanitation access can create a high return on investment;

Amendment 16

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C. whereas climate change represents a major threat to water resources and aquatic ecosystems, and exacerbates water stress;

C. whereas climate change represents a major threat to water resources and aquatic ecosystems, and undermines sustainable development prospects, particularly in developing countries and fragile contexts; whereas experts increasingly refer to ‘water bankruptcy’ to describe a persistent shortage of water whereby water systems can no longer return to their historical baselines; whereas it is estimated that global water demand will surpass water availability by 40 % in 2030; whereas further estimates foresee that over one billion people will have insufficient access to water by 2050; whereas healthy ecosystems may positively contribute to water quantity and quality;

Amendment 17

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ca. whereas recent studies show that all water basins are polluted by nanoplastics and persistent organic pollutants (dioxins, furans, hexachlorobenzene, polychlorinated biphenyls);

Amendment 18

Motion for a resolution

Recital C b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Cb. whereas there is a need to link sustainable water management with the achievement of SDG 14 (Life Below Water) in relation to the polluting and eutrophication of the oceans;

Amendment 19

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D. whereas hydrological cycles are becoming increasingly erratic and are characterised by violent swings between severe drought and devastating floods, driven by climate change; whereas all glaciated regions in the world have reported ice loss in recent years; whereas human activities are responsible for a significant amount of the pollution of fresh water resources worldwide;

D. whereas hydrological cycles are becoming increasingly unpredictable and are characterised by swings between severe drought and devastating floods, driven by climate change; whereas all glaciated regions in the world have reported ice loss in recent years; whereas certain human activities are responsible for a significant amount of the pollution of fresh water resources worldwide;

Amendment 20

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Da. whereas the nature of the mining and agriculture sectors have a great impact on water resources, including risks of depletion and pollution;

Amendment 21

Motion for a resolution

Recital D b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Db. whereas water quantity and quality are equally important; whereas the sufficient management of both creates economic and social opportunities;

Amendment 22

Recital D c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Dc. whereas the Global Gateway can be a useful tool for addressing water-related challenges in partner countries; whereas effective and sustainable transboundary water governance requires the strong involvement of the countries concerned, alignment with their national development strategies, and the participation of local authorities and communities in planning and implementation; whereas sustainable economic development relies heavily on healthy water bodies; whereas water projects under the Global Gateway can not only foster water security but also climate resilience, as well as long-term socio-economic development;

Amendment 23

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E. whereas transboundary aquifers, lakes and river basins shared by two or more countries make up 60 % of the world’s freshwater flows;

E. whereas transboundary aquifers, lakes and river basins shared by two or more countries make up 60 % of the world’s freshwater flows; whereas SDG target 6.5 calls for the implementation of integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate, by 2030; whereas, however, according to the UN integrated water resources management (IWRM) data portal, 40 % of countries are categorised as having ‘low’ or ‘medium-low’ levels of IWRM implementation; whereas 153 countries have territory in which there is at least one transboundary river, which underlines the importance of cross-border cooperation development partnerships and dialogue on water governance;

Amendment 24

Motion for a resolution

Recital F a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Fa. whereas strong water governance, transparency and monitoring in the water and sanitation sector ensure that the use of financial resources serves the public interest and supports sustainable development;

Amendment 25

Motion for a resolution

Recital F b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Fb. whereas embracing growth indicators that account for natural resources costs and sustainable water use would empower countries to address climate change, strengthen ecosystem resilience, foster economic stability and enhance international cooperation;

Amendment 26

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

G. whereas water stress and unilateral actions by countries in transboundary waters, such as pollution or overexploitation, or the construction of infrastructure has implications for all states bordering those waters; whereas disputes over access to water feed into and may fuel wider conflicts, with severe consequences for regional stability and human security;

G. whereas water stress and unilateral actions by countries in transboundary waters, such as pollution or overexploitation, or the construction of infrastructure, can have implications for all states bordering those waters; whereas disputes over access to water can feed into and may fuel wider conflicts, with severe consequences for regional stability and human security;

Amendment 27

Motion for a resolution

Recital H

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

H. whereas even though historically water has functioned as a catalyst for cooperation, over the last 10 years conflict over water has exceeded cooperation;

H. whereas water can function as a catalyst for cooperation; whereas clear communication, dialogue and the sharing of best practices can create mutual benefits and foster cooperation;

Amendment 28

Motion for a resolution

Recital H a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ha. whereas ensuring the safety of water infrastructure and maintaining civilian access to water are essential humanitarian priorities, as stated in Article 54 of the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), yet the risk of weaponisation of these resources unfortunately persists in modern conflicts;

Amendment 29

Motion for a resolution

Recital I

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

I. whereas upstream users of water systems have some relative advantages over the downstream users;

I. whereas upstream users of water systems have some relative advantages over downstream users; whereas tackling pollution at source is an efficient tool to increase water quality;

Amendment 30

Motion for a resolution

Recital J

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

J. whereas armed conflict and occupation significantly disrupt water accessibility and transnational water cooperation;

J. whereas humanitarian crises, climate-related disasters, armed conflict and occupation significantly disrupt water accessibility and transnational water cooperation; whereas they often lead to the destruction or degradation of water and sanitation infrastructure, increasing the risk of epidemics, food insecurity and forced displacement;

Amendment 31

Motion for a resolution

Recital J a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ja. whereas the European Ocean Pact affirms the EU’s commitment to a holistic approach to the water cycle, including a source-to-sea approach and a commitment to leading global ocean diplomacy;

Amendment 32

Motion for a resolution

Recital J b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Jb. whereas political commitments at the global level for sustainable water management have not been matched by the required finance or action on the ground;

Amendment 33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point a

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(a) increase the role of transboundary water governance plays in EU external action, so it acts as a meaningful tool for conflict prevention, resolution and trust-building at regional, national and international levels, especially in areas vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and where water is already scarce;

(a) reaffirm that access to water is a fundamental right that needs to be addressed in the context of competing water demands from the agriculture, energy, extractive and other industrial sectors, which rely on access to large quantities of water; stress the benefits of transboundary water cooperation that provides for equitable benefit sharing, avoids conflicts and fosters the energy-food-water ecosystem nexus; emphasise that solutions which are codesigned with local knowledge and community participation have crucial added value that increases efficiency and strengthens social and community resilience towards water-related shocks;

Amendment 34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point b

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(b) address the lack of operational agreements between governments sharing transboundary water basins and make all necessary EU expertise and technical and financial assistance available to support governments in establishing and implementing such arrangements as well as river basin organisations;

(b) address the lack of operational agreements between governments sharing transboundary water basins and make the necessary EU expertise, best practices and technical assistance available to support national, regional and local governments, as well as competent river basin organisations, in establishing, monitoring and implementing such arrangements;

Amendment 35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point c

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(c) strengthen the role transnational water governance plays in EU external action and diplomacy and to this end provide the European External Action Service (EEAS) and EU Delegations around the world with the appropriate financial and human resources to initiate and accompany transboundary water management and diplomacy activities on the ground within and between partner countries;

(c) support partner countries’ efforts to create a legal environment and a conducive policy for collaborative water management and strengthen the role of transnational water governance in EU external action and diplomacy; provide, to this end, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the EU Delegations around the world with the appropriate financial and human resources to support transboundary water management on the ground, within and between partner countries, and to foster the development and implementation of blue diplomacy;

Amendment 36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point d

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(d) ensure increased and steady funding for EU transboundary water management in EU external action under the next multiannual financial framework;

(d) ensure increased and steady funding for EU transboundary water management and sustainable water management in partner countries in EU external action under the next multiannual financial framework, including specific financial allocations for prevention, resilience and adaptation; stress the need to pay particular attention to women, children and the most vulnerable communities as regards access to water and sanitation;

Amendment 37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point e

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(e) expand the geographic scope of EU transboundary water governance projects beyond Africa and Central Asia to the Americas, the Middle East and North Africa, and East and South Asia through a Team Europe approach;

(e) expand the geographic scope of EU transboundary water governance projects beyond Africa and Central Asia to the Americas, the Middle East and North Africa, and East and South Asia through a Team Europe approach and Global Gateway projects;

Amendment 38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(ea) advance global water resilience as a driver of stability by effectively implementing the European water resilience strategy, with a particular focus on its global actions to expand access to water and sanitation for at least 70 million people and to enhance global water governance and engagement in multilateral forums;

Amendment 39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point e b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(eb) strengthen sustainable water and waste water management by systematically integrating cooperation on infrastructure, technologies and expertise into partnerships and development programmes; support capacity-building and institutional strengthening in partner countries to improve the planning, governance and maintenance of water and sanitation services, including through partnerships with local authorities, public services, civil society and community-based organisations; tailor infrastructure investments to local and historical contexts in order to turn water into an instrument of peace and stability;

Amendment 40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point e c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(ec) enhance the targeting of the EU’s external investments and EU-supported transboundary water initiatives, including EU-funded infrastructure projects in water and sanitation, through the Global Gateway and other related external financing instruments; identify and address the needs of people living in poverty and of vulnerable and marginalised groups, including through measures to reduce water poverty and improve access in rural areas; determine the appropriate instruments needed to support public-private partnerships in water treatment, waste water reuse and the setting up of such waste water plants, making use, when necessary, of blended financing models as well as combining private and public funding, aligned with the sustainable development objectives; prioritise and promote investment in WASH infrastructure and education programmes, including menstrual health management, in schools and healthcare facilities, particularly in rural and underserved areas, in order to improve educational outcomes, improve girls’ school attendance and educational equality, and reduce disease transmission and lower child and maternal mortality;

Amendment 41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point g

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(g) invest in a more transparent overview of all ongoing EU support dedicated to the promotion of transboundary water management internationally and ensure the coherence and streamlining of all work and funding across all relevant Directorates-General and between the EEAS and the Commission;

(g) invest in a more transparent overview of EU support dedicated to the promotion of transboundary water management internationally and ensure the coherence and streamlining of work and funding across the relevant Directorates-General and between the EEAS and the Commission;

Amendment 42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(ga) recognise the central role of healthy ecosystems in achieving water security, notably the benefits of nature assets for water management, such as forest conservation to regulate the water supply, as well as mangroves and wetland restoration and conservation to reduce potential flood damage, which often provide more cost-effective and sustainable water management solutions than conventional infrastructure remedies;

Amendment 43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point g b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(gb) ensure that the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems is a central pillar of water resources management, especially for the mitigation of and adaption to climate change;

Amendment 44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point h

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(h) work wherever possible to ensure clean and high-quality water, promote sustainable water management and implement various innovative water technologies, including nature-based solutions;

(h) work wherever possible to ensure clean, safe and high-quality water and adequate sanitation, promote and integrate sustainable water management, and implement various innovative water technologies, including, but not limited to, nature-based solutions that strengthen public services and partner-country capacities;

Amendment 45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(ha) afford priority to investment in water, sanitation and school infrastructure, particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas, in order to improve quality of life during schooling and consequently academic results, as well as to reduce the transmission of disease and lower infant and maternal mortality;

Amendment 46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point h b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(hb) integrate gender and child-sensitive approaches into EU water diplomacy and development cooperation while promoting stakeholder participation, notably of women and other vulnerable groups, in water governance;

Amendment 47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point h c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(hc) support water-related investment through the Global Gateway and other EU instruments;

Amendment 48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point i

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(i) ensure that EU water initiatives worldwide address the persisting data gaps and lack of data sharing between governments by means of equipping partner countries with technical and physical resources to monitor water levels and the quality of transboundary basins effectively, and by exchanging data and fostering common standards for data collection between partner countries in order to increase compatibility;

(i) ensure that EU water initiatives worldwide address the persisting data gaps and lack of data sharing between governments by means of equipping partner countries with technical and physical resources to monitor water levels and the quality of transboundary basins effectively, and by exchanging data and fostering common standards for data collection between partner countries in order to increase compatibility, transparency and trust;

Amendment 49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(ia) set up a common database that uses the latest technologies and which can be accessed by all public institutions that manage water resources;

Amendment 50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point j

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(j) promote intergovernmental and regional cooperation instruments in the management of water resources, focusing in particular on ensuring the fair distribution of water between countries and business sectors, and support local and community level governance structures so as to promote inclusive decision making and water management;

(j) promote intergovernmental and regional cooperation instruments in the management of water resources, focusing on ensuring the fair distribution of water, between countries, users and business sectors, and support local and community level governance structures, civil society and local authorities; foster the development of regional governance structures that focus on transboundary rivers and lake basins;

Amendment 51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point j a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(ja) underline the principle of policy coherence for development and of EU policy alignment with partner countries’ development priorities, informed by assessments of their impact on local resources, in order to jointly avoid water depletion or pollution in non-EU countries;

Amendment 52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point k

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(k) strengthen EU monitoring and early warning capacities through digitalisation and modern technologies; strengthen the monitoring of water scarcity and water-related conflict risks worldwide, such as the weaponisation of water and water infrastructure and deliberate deprivation of water access, making it a part of the conflict-prevention systems of the EEAS Crisis Response Centre;

(k) strengthen EU monitoring and early warning capacities through digitalisation, earth-observation tools and modern technologies; strengthen the monitoring of water scarcity and water-related conflict risks, such as the weaponisation of water and water infrastructure and deliberate deprivation of water access;

Amendment 53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point m

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(m) appoint a high-ranking EU official as EU Special Representative tasked with preventing and resolving water-related conflicts, promoting water cooperation, and protecting water sources and systems, including during armed conflicts and in transboundary settings;

(m) appoint a high-ranking EU official as EU Special Representative, for which the UN Special Envoy on Water could be a role model, tasked with preventing and resolving water-related conflicts, promoting water cooperation, and protecting water sources and systems, including during armed conflicts and in transboundary settings, in close coordination with relevant EU institutions and international partners;

Amendment 54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(ma) strengthen cooperation with international organisations and UN agencies in preparation for and follow-up to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, ensuring that water security policies, contribute to the achievement of all SDGs;

Amendment 55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(na) stress that, among other continents and regions, Africa’s rapidly changing urban context necessitates particularly urgent action to develop water resilience, including through sustainable urban planning, and technical support;

Amendment 56

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point n b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(nb) draw on and learn from existing innovative projects and initiatives and create preferred partnerships with European water technology and water treatment companies entailing co-investment from European institutional investors together with private sector companies, in particular for Africa;

Amendment 57

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point n c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(nc) highlight the need to prioritise transboundary water management, water security and sanitation in the EU’s development cooperation and humanitarian action, including in country and regional programming, fitting to the local context; consider setting up a dedicated programme for promoting investment in mobile, containerised water solutions that could be deployed at short notice to provide clean drinking water and water reuse possibilities in water-scarce regions, regions in conflict and used in humanitarian and peace keeping efforts globally;

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

The rapporteur for opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not include in his opinion input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted

5.5.2026

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

17

4

2

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Key to symbols: