APE participates in APRH’s roundtable “Water: What Futures?”
Aqua Publica Europea participated in a roundtable discussion on the topic “Water: What Futures?” organised by the Portuguese Water Resources Association (APRH) in Porto.
On 27 September 2023, Aqua Publica Europea shared its views on human rights and access to water in Europe in a roundtable discussion on the topic “Water: What Futures?” organised by the Portuguese Water Resources Association (APRH) in Porto.
The event provided an opportunity to discuss how to move towards a more integrated approach to water resources as well as strategies and innovation needs for the future. It brought together key researchers, public water operators, representatives from the national agency and regulators.
In its keynote speech, APE’s Policy Coordinator, Jean-Yves Stenuick, explained that water poverty is experienced by millions of EU residents with far-reaching social, economic and environmental consequences such as health risks and decreased employability.
He then updated participants on recent EU policy developments related to access to water and sanitation and gave an overview of growing investment needs in the sector driven by new legislation, climate change and new expectations for water utilities.
He concluded by describing the path to increased water affordability with a focus on holistic social protection measures, new financing mechanisms that go beyond tariffs and a better enforcement of the polluter-pays principle in the water sector.