Brussels: As part of the implementation of the EU Water Resilience Strategy, the European Commission is launching a series of Structured Water Dialogues with Member States, to jointly accelerate action to achieve the environmental objectives of EU water legislation.

According to Emirates News Agency, the latest report on the state of water in the EU reveals that only 39.5% of EU surface water bodies are achieving good ecological status, and only 26.8% are achieving good chemical status. The report highlights that, while some advancements have been made towards reaching EU targets for water quality, quantity, and flood preparedness, faster progress is needed across Europe to protect waters and better manage flood risks.

Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, emphasized the importance of collaboration: "We know what water challenges we are facing across Europe, but now is the time to listen and engage with each other to solve them. These dialogues are an opportunity for collaboration, where every voice can contribute to shaping effective solutions. Together, we are committed to achieving our shared objectives for water, ensuring a water-resilient future for all."

The dialogues are designed to assist Member States in complying with the country-specific recommendations to improve water management by 2027. These recommendations were formulated in the context of the latest assessment of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, the Floods Directive, and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Planned to be conducted between 2025-2027 with each Member State, the dialogues will involve preparatory technical meetings between the Commission and national administrations. These will culminate in a political discussion led by Commissioner Roswall and the relevant Minister(s) responsible for water management. The outcomes of these dialogues will represent a considerable step towards achieving water resilience in the EU.