Water Policies

EU Water Policies aim to protect freshwater and marine ecosystems, ensure clean and sustainable water use, and safeguard EU citizens’ health and livelihoods. Healthy water systems are also vital for biodiversity, climate resilience, and long-term prosperity.

Key Connections

• • Ecosystem services and Nature-Based Solutions: Wetlands, rivers, and riparian zones filter water, store carbon, and buffer against floods and droughts. Restoring these systems enhances water quality and supports biodiversity.
  • Aquatic biodiversity: Freshwater species, like fish and amphibians, are declining faster than terrestrial or marine species. Protecting rivers and lakes under the Water Framework Directive is critical for reversing this trend.
  • Climate resilience: Conservation efforts, such as restoring floodplains and rewetting peatlands, provide natural defences against water-related climate impacts, including extreme rainfall and prolonged drought.

Facts

• • Pollution: Agriculture is the largest contributor to water pollution in Europe. Nitrates from fertilisers, manure, and pesticides degrade water quality and harm aquatic life.
  • Over-extraction: In many European places, excessive water withdrawal for irrigation and industry has dried up rivers and aquifers, threatening ecosystems and communities.
  • Climate change: By 2100, water availability in Southern Europe could decline by 40%, while flooding risks in Northern Europe and elsewhere are expected to increase significantly.

State of Water in Europe – EEA

Action

Ensuring sustainable water management requires more vigorous enforcement of the Water Framework Directive and investment in nature-based solutions like wetland restoration and river rewilding. Public engagement and cross-border cooperation are essential to address shared water challenges and secure a sustainable future for Europe’s freshwater and marine resources.