European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall's opening address at IFAT Munich 2026 Munich, 4 May 2026 Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to be here for the opening of IFAT Munich 2026. This event brings together the very best and most creative solutions for a more circular, sustainable and resilient Europe. I came early this morning and have already seen amazing examples of the technol...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall's opening address at IFAT Munich 2026 Munich, 4 May 2026 Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to be here for the opening of IFAT Munich 2026. This event brings together the very best and most creative solutions for a more circular, sustainable and resilient Europe. I came early this morning and have already seen amazing examples of the technologies needed to deliver this transition: From wastewater treatment and the most advanced digital tools to the recovery and recycling of energy and materials. Thousands of exhibitors, dozens of countries, and infinite levels of innovation. So, I want to thank you all for your commitment and your immense contributions to society, There is a reason we are all gathered here today. Water is the lifeblood of our world. It fuels and feeds our society, industry, energy and food security, ecosystems and more. And it connects us all, at every level – globally and locally, economically, politically, and culturally. But our water cycle is broken, and we are struggling to deal with too much water, too little water, or polluted water. We urgently need to change tack – and the European Water Resilience Strategy from last year, and its many actions, is our roadmap to a more sustainable water future. And the principles of circularity are at its very core. The water cycle is, by definition, circular. And yet, too often, we fail to make the link between water and the circular economy. However, water is not just a resource within the circular economy—it is the medium through which circularity so often happens. It carries materials, enables industrial processes, and connects sectors. At the same time, circular solutions — from material recovery to energy efficiency — shape how water is used, treated and reused. In other words: there is no competitive circular economy without water resilience, and no water resilience without circularity. Events like this one are crucial to delivering this change in mindset – and I am looking forward to seeing this innovation in practice. Now, let me share three of the priority areas for water and circularity. First - water efficiency. In the EU, nearly a quarter of all treated water is lost through leakages. This means precious water is wasted – obviously. But it also means we lose the energy required to treat and pump water. This is unacceptable in a world of water scarcity. And that's why we have set the target to improve water efficiency by at least 10% by 2030 We need to wring every ounce of value out of every single drop. Digital tools such as smart water metering and artificial intelligence-driven leak detection can play a crucial role here. In a few weeks, we will publish a Call for Evidence on the Digital Action Plan for water, which I intend to put forward later this year. I count on your input. Second – water reuse. Today, less than 2.5% of treated wastewater is reused in the EU. So, there is enormous untapped potential within reach. Under the Water Resilience Strategy, the Commission is committed to supporting safe reuse and wider circular water solutions for industry, cooling, urban applications and buildings. And I'm very interested in the innovation that can allow this to happen. Third – the water-energy nexus. Water is a cornerstone of the EU's renewable energy sector. At the same time, the energy sector is a major water user. Water is a key factor in the clean energy transition – either as an enabler, or as a constraint, depending on its availability. Remember, there will be no green – without the blue. There is also a major energy security component to this discussion, as water can also serve as nature's own energy storage, like a battery. When oil and gas markets are shaken by conflict, Europe needs more than short-term crisis management. We need structural ways to reduce exposure. We must make better use of underused or discarded domestic resources – like sewage sludge, organic waste, and manure. For example, biogas from waste could meet 10 per cent of Europe's gas needs. We also need to maximise resource recovery from wastewater. Significant amounts of phosphorus, a vital component in fertiliser, can be recovered from wastewater – reducing our need to import it from other countries. This year, the EU is taking concrete steps to drive the transition to a more innovative, circular, water resilient future. For example, a Water Resilience Research and Innovation Strategy will ensure a more structured approach to R&I. And we are taking action to boost private investment in innovation, including for water retention and efficiency. We are also preparing a Circular Economy Act to build a single market where waste, secondary materials, and circular goods move fairly and freely across the European Union. European companies are already at the very forefront of circular innovation. I see it here today, and I've seen it across the EU – in resource recovery, chemical recycling, batteries, and the bioeconomy – replacing fossil feedstock with biological solutions. We want to support this innovation – and to see it grow. The Circular Economy Act will boost investment in circular solutions. And it will help to ensure that the EU's Single Market is the best place in the world to grow circular businesses. We're also working to build markets for bio-based solutions, including turning waste into energy and fertilisers. Ladies and gentlemen, Securing water resilience and circularity requires the right mix of legislation, structural reform, investment, and determination. But collaboration offers us the foundation – and innovation the framework – for success. So, none of this will be possible without you. Europe's innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors. Policy makers and public authorities. Scientists and stakeholders. Working to develop groundbreaking solutions to today's problems. I assure you that I will be with you at every step. And together, we can build a more competitive and resilient Europe. Energy secure, water resilient, circular and sustainable, all at the same time. Thank you – and I wish you an excellent event. SPEECH/26/959
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