Aqua Publica Europea had the pleasure of co-organising an event at the European Parliament on 9 April on “Financing Water Resilience – Reconciling Environmental Sustainability, Equity, and Efficiency in the Water Sector for the Future of Europe”, in collaboration with MEP Stine Bosse. We are extremely grateful for MEP Bosse’s support and engagement in this important conversation.

We also sincerely thank MEP Thomas Bajada, Rapporteur for the Own-Initiative Report on the Water Resilience Initiative, for joining us and offering valuable reflections following the report’s adoption by the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament.

Key highlights:

• Claudia Olazábal, European Commission: Confirmed that investment will be a central pillar of the Water Resilience Strategy. Pointed to the underuse of existing EU funds and called for better uptake. Strengthening water resilience involves diverse interventions –each with its own cost structure and economic rationale– requiring targeted financial tools and incentives.

• Bernard Van Nuffel, Aqua Publica Europea: Highlighted rising investment needs due to climate change, regulation, and industrial demand. Proposed smarter tariffs (e.g. higher fixed fees for intermittent users), stronger polluter- and beneficiary-pays principles, and dedicated taxes for drought/flood management. Stressed the importance of long-term financing from public banks and EU support for water-scarce, low-revenue regions.

• Bonaldi da Costa, Grundfos: Called for aligning investments with a supportive EU framework, recognising water’s true value, promoting reuse and decentralised solutions, and incentivising efficient use through appropriate tariffs.

• Vera Eiró, WAREG: Underlined the critical role of economic regulation in ensuring financial sustainability, investor confidence, and consumer protection. Stressed the central role of data in ensuring effective governance.

• James Hunt, EIB: Noted the strength of existing EU water legislation and the need for better alignment with other sectoral policies to ensure efficient water use. Stressed that restoring the water cycle should be a policy priority, with empowered river basin authorities and water operators. Emphasised the EIB's role in addressing market failures, making its role in the water sector vital.

• Xavier Leflaive, OECD: Stressed that private finance can support water investments if taxes, tariffs, and transfers ensure payback. Called for a shift in how water projects are assessed, focusing on optimising resources. Urged clearer rules on water bill financing, stronger polluter-pays application, and prioritising social justice in water financing strategies.

These contributions will feed into an upcoming paper by Aqua Publica Europea on a new financing model for the water sector.
We look forward to continuing the conversation on a resilient, fair, and sustainable water future for Europe! A full event report will follow soon.