Sustainable and resilient water infrastructures and distribution networks

Background

Water and access to water is a service of general interest and needs special protection. In October 2022, the EESC Bureau chose the EU Blue Deal as the cross-cutting topic for the own-initiative 2023 package, highlighting the importance of water in all policy areas.

The TEN section is contributing by focusing on water infrastructures:

• in order to secure sustainable, efficient and fair water supply in Europe, water distribution networks and infrastructures need to be resilient and fit for purpose;
• in the EU water distribution network, water leakages and preparedness (vulnerability to cyberattacks) and management of water-related disruptions should be addressed as a priority.

Key points

• Water is not a commodity like any other but, rather, a heritage that must be protected and defended. The EESC believes that universal access to drinking water and sanitation of high quality at affordable prices for the population should be treated as a public good and not merely a commodity with full respect of Art. 14 of TFEU and the Protocol 26 annexed to TEU and TFEU. In this context, the EESC recommends that the EU adopt and strengthen regulatory frameworks on water concession agreements, to guarantee universal access to water and sewage systems at an affordable price and with adequate quality standards and the restoration and protection of ecosystems and in order to ensure the necessary investments in infrastructure. The exemptions for water and wastewater set out in Directive 2014/23/EU on the award of concession contracts, granted as a result of the successful ECI on "Right2Water", must also be maintained in the future with full respect of Art. 14 of TFEU and the Protocol 26 annexed to TEU and TFEU. The EESC also opposes any liberalisation obligation in the water and wastewater sector, especially in the context of the climate crisis.
• Amidst a worsening situation regarding the distribution of water resources, the EESC points out that the economy, in particular water-intensive industries and agriculture, should be organised in such a way as to reduce water consumption and improve water reuse. This will also require national and European requirements and recommendations in order to better regulate water consumption and allow for more effective financial support for water infrastructure. This must include reducing water loss due to leakages in networks, which in some EU countries amount to over 20%, as well as wastewater in agriculture, industry, construction and tourism, which need to be significantly reduced. These sectors can contribute to the solution by stepping up research and innovation. Water shortages resulting from the climate crisis will negatively affect the production and storage of electricity in the long term. The expansion of renewable energy sources should continue to be promoted swiftly, especially in the solar and wind sectors, in order to compensate for potential shortfalls from hydropower plants.
• The EESC proposes to the European Commission the launch of a Europe-wide public consultation process, which, by assessing European water needs, will serve as the foundation of the future interventions of the "EU Blue Deal".

Additional information

Section: Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN)

Opinion number: TEN/804

Opinion type: Own-initiative

Rapporteur: Thomas Kattnig (Workers – Group II / Austria)

Date of adoption by section: 26 June 2023

Result of the vote: 68 in favour, 0 against, 1 abstention

Date of adoption in plenary: 12-13 July 2023

Result of the vote: 199 in favour, 10 against, 17 abstentions

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