On 9 April 2025, Aqua Public Europea co-organised the public seminar “FINANCING WATER RESILIENCE” at the European Parliament, in collaboration with MEP Stine Bosse (Renew Europe, Denmark).

Claudia Olazábal, Head of Unit for Sustainable Freshwater Management at the European Commission, confirmed that investment will be a central pillar of the upcoming Water Resilience Strategy. She 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, she concluded.

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

Bonaldi da Costa, Head of EU Affairs at Grundfos, called for aligning investments with a supportive EU framework, recognising water’s true value, promoting water reuse and decentralised solutions, and incentivising efficient use through appropriate tariffs.

Vera Eiró, President of WAREG, underlined the critical role of economic regulation in ensuring financial sustainability, investor confidence, and consumer protection. She also stressed the central role of data in ensuring effective governance. 

James Hunt, Senior Water Engineer at the European Investment Bank (EIB), noted the strength of existing EU water legislation and the need for better alignment with other sectoral policies to ensure efficient water use. He stressed that restoring the water cycle should be a policy priority, with empowered river basin authorities and water operators. He finally emphasised the EIB's role in addressing market failures, making its role in the water sector vital.

Xavier Leflaive, Senior Advisor at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), stressed that private finance can support water investments if taxes, tariffs, and transfers ensure payback. He called for a shift in how water projects are assessed, focusing on optimising resources. He finally urged clearer rules on water bill financing, stronger polluter-pays principle 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.

Event materials: 

• Event report
• Photo album - photo credit: Alexandros Moridis
• Video recording