Water resilience is a common responsibility of all stakeholders. This was the message reiterated by Commissioner Roswall in her opening remarks at the launch of the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform on 21 September 2026.

As a member of the Platform, Aqua Publica Europea (APE) strongly welcomes the multi-stakeholder approach pursued by the European Commission. As public water resource managers, we know that cross-sectoral coordination is essential to strengthening resilience across all the main dimensions of the Water Resilience Strategy, from restoring the water cycle to improving efficiency across water uses.

Representing APE, Armando Quazzo, CEO of SMAT – Turin’s public water operator, contributed to the discussion on digitalisation in the water sector and the European Commission’s forthcoming Digital Action Plan for the Water Sector.

In his intervention, Armando highlighted four key priorities for the Action Plan:

• Interoperability and open standards
• Reliable data and the role of skilled water professionals
• Cybersecurity and digital sovereignty
• Adequate financing for digital investments

Through the newly established Stakeholder Platform, APE will continue to bring the perspective of public water operators to the European discussion on the future of digitalisation and on how digital tools can contribute to a more resilient, sustainable and efficient water sector.

The launch also highlighted the importance of skills and capacity-building for the future of Europe’s water sector, a topic addressed through the European Water Academy (EUWA).

Skills and training for Europe’s water sector

Skills and training are a key part of the future of Europe’s water sector. At the launch of the European Water Academy, Armando Quazzo represented APE in the discussion on the skills and training needs of the sector.

Water utilities are taking on new responsibilities, from drought and flood risk mitigation to nutrient recovery and pathogen surveillance. At the same time, many operators are finding it difficult to recruit certain specialised profiles.

Armando highlighted three areas where the new Academy can bring added value:

• Micro-credentials and recognition of professional experience
• Cooperation across borders
• Training bringing together water operators, authorities, academia and other stakeholders

He also presented APE’s Water Erasmus initiative, which allows water operators to exchange knowledge and experience across Europe. For APE, the European Water Academy should build on the training and expertise already available across Europe while focusing on the gaps identified by the sector.

APE is a member of the EUWA’s Core Governing Group and will contribute to this work while supporting knowledge and best-practice exchange between public water operators.

APE also congratulates its member EMASESA Metropolitana for its participation as First Champion of EUWA and for being a role model for professional training in the water sector.