As our world undergoes rapid transformation, it is becoming increasingly important to find sustainable solutions for the future. Water, a precious but scarce resource, is a prime example of this challenge. The EU has anticipated water-related challenges to a certain extent, setting up legal frameworks for the protection and management of our freshwater and marine resources. However, many of these objectives have not been reached and the water dimension is not sufficiently embedded in public and private decision making.
Against this background, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) decided to work on water as a cross-cutting theme in 2023. The EESC will adopt a set of opinions addressing the topic from sectorial perspectives and making concrete proposals with a view to building a comprehensive approach to European water policies. It is time for an EU Blue Deal.
Dr Paul Rübig, an EESC member and a rapporteur on the ‘Blue Deal’, has collaborated with scientists, researchers, and innovative entrepreneurs to publish a knowledge-driven book that explores water-related Sustainable Development Goals, research and innovation, and emergency preparedness. The book will be presented by Paul Rübig during a cocktail reception on 3 April in the EESC premises in the presence of Commissioner Johannes Hahn, EESC President Christa Schweng, Director General for Agriculture and Rural Development Wolfgang Burtscher and other distinguished speakers.