On 6 November, the Management Board of Aqua Publica Europea (APE) met with European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, accompanied by Cabinet member Ms Pernille Weiss-Ehler.
Held at VIVAQUA’s laboratory (Brussels’ public water operator), the meeting aimed to foster dialogue on the key challenges of water resource management. It also offered an opportunity for APE Board Members to learn more about Commissioner Roswall’s political priorities and to discuss how public water operators can contribute to their achievement.
Commissioner Roswall emphasised that the European Water Resilience Strategy (EWRS) offers a systemic approach to ensuring citizens’ health and the sustainable use of water resources, safeguarding this vital element for current and future generations.
“Protecting people’s health is one of my most important responsibilities as a politician,” she affirmed, emphasising that “water resilience is not just a slogan, it’s a system built on trust, cooperation, and public service.”
Addressing the challenges posed by climate change, pollution, and water scarcity, Commissioner Roswall underlined that public water operators play a crucial role in achieving water resilience:
“Public operators are not just service providers, they are innovation hubs […] whose daily work, decisions, long-term planning, and engagement truly make a difference on the ground.”
The Commissioner also outlined key initiatives the European Commission is implementing to support the EWRS’s objectives. These include the European Water Academy, designed to foster training, knowledge sharing, and sector-wide exchange, as well as directing EU funding to water investments with support from the European Investment Bank (EIB). Digital solutions, including improved leak detection and repair, will be further supported through the upcoming EU action plan on water sector digitalisation, launching in 2026. She concluded by stating that “Europe must build on this momentum to remain a global reference for sustainable water management.”
APE Board members presented concrete initiatives to support the achievement of the EWRS’s objectives, based on APE strategic vision of public water operators evolving from service providers to true managers of the entire water cycle. A strong framework for pollution prevention at the source, effective governance to foster investment, and a solidarity mechanism to support territories facing both economic and water scarcity challenges are essential conditions for fulfilling our current and future responsibilities.
Finally, the laboratory visit also showcased members’ scientific expertise and innovation in monitoring and treating emerging pollutants, with a strong commitment to keeping this knowledge transparent and accessible to the public.
