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European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall gives an opening address at the 9th Water Festival Rome, 28 September 2026 Distinguished guests, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to be part of the 9th edition of the Water Festival. Today is a celebration of water. And I cannot think of a more suitable host than a city built on water innovation. Thousands of years ago, enginee...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall gives an opening address at the 9th Water Festival Rome, 28 September 2026 Distinguished guests, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to be part of the 9th edition of the Water Festival. Today is a celebration of water. And I cannot think of a more suitable host than a city built on water innovation. Thousands of years ago, engineers connected Rome to water far beyond its walls. Those systems helped Rome prosper and become one of the great cultural and economic centres of the ancient world. They explain why this city became known as Regina Aquarum – Queen of the waters. And they demonstrated something that remains true today: water is not simply a resource. It is the hidden architect behind every successful society. Today, despite that innovation, Rome is facing water scarcity on a massive scale. The iconic Tiber is running low. The rich, fertile fields around it, parched. Hundreds of your famous nasoni [drinking fountains in Rome] turned off. Across Europe, and especially across the Mediterranean, busy cities and rural communities, small farmers and big industry are grappling with these same challenges. All of this made worse by a summer of record heat, severe drought, and destructive wildfires. This summer left us with no doubts about the vital importance of water. Power plants closed down and industry shut up shop, hydroelectricity reduced, ecosystems damaged, agricultural yields hit, and soils sucked dry. The summer's extremes are estimated to have cost the EU 180 billion euros, and counting. So, yes, today is a celebration of water. But today is also a clarion call for action. A stark warning to us all. And a reminder of what we stand to lose. Because life without a secure and clean water supply is a frightening thing to behold. But this can be a positive story. Water is a story of hope and perseverance. Water always finds a way. Now, we need to show the same resolve. We know what we need to do to solve this problem. Here in this room, we have the stakeholders, the experience, and the high-level political engagement needed to drive change. And we have the technology, the expertise and the financial instruments to make that change count – for people, farmers, nature and communities across Italy and across Europe. Water is also a story of opportunity. It is an investment that will repay again and again. It can secure productivity in agriculture and industry. It is a chance for Europe to take the lead on water innovation. And it can contribute to climate adaptation, food and energy security, and health. For example, healthy wetlands and free flowing rivers act as barriers to drought and flooding. So, water resilience is about protecting today's economies and creating the conditions for tomorrow's growth. I know that Italy – guided by many of the people here today – is taking action. It has coordinated more than one thousand LIFE projects since the programme began, the highest number among EU Member States. Under the Cohesion Policy, Italy is reallocating more than 600 million euro to investments promoting water resilience. And just last June, the European Investment Bank (EIB) approved a 450-million-euro financing package to support the modernisation of water infrastructure here in the Lazio region. These are vital steps that should be applauded . And we are matching them at European level – where water has never been higher on the agenda. Just last week, President von der Leyen put water and food security firmly at the heart of her State of the Union address. This is a personal and a political priority for me, too. I have seen firsthand the dangers of water scarcity in Italy and across the Mediterranean. I have met with industry who face an uncertain future. With civil society dealing with the consequences of water pollution or drought. And with farmers living under an existential threat. So, when I read about the collapse of Europe's olive harvest, or about the impact on Italy's wine sector, I can put a human face on this crisis. And it makes me even more committed to this fight. This is why we are moving full steam ahead with the European Water Resilience Strategy. First – on efficiency. We cannot build resilience by extracting more and more water. That's why our Strategy aims to improve water efficiency by 10 percent by 2030. We are preparing new drought management guidance. We are examining the potential of wate reuse. And we are applying the principle of efficiency first to new strategic industries, like data centres. Second – on investment. Resilience requires infrastructure and innovation, and both require investment. The European Investment Bank has committed more than 15 billion euros to water. The Water Resilience Investment Accelerator aims to connect high-potential projects with financial instruments. And we are working to mobilise greater private investment for greater impact. And third – on collaboration. Water flows across borders and between regions. It is used by all sectors and all stakeholders. And that means no European institution, national government or water utility can do this alone. We all have a role to play. We are working with Member States through the Structured Dialogues to boost implementation of the EU water rules and identify where changes are needed. Just last week, we launched the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform, bringing together more than 50 experts from civil society, business, research and public authorities. And through the European Water Academy, we are building the knowledge and skills needed for a water secure future. However, I want to stress that water resilience will be delivered in Member States, not in Brussels. It will be achieved by local communities, regions, and cities across Italy. Water utilities are at the heart of this effort. You are where European policy meets daily life, and where the resilience of our water systems will ultimately be tested. Ladies and gentlemen, Water has been part of our story since the dawn of humanity. It decided where we lived. Where we grew food. Who we traded with and how. It drove innovation – as we can see around Rome. And it nurtured civilisation – culture, trade, exploration, development, science and so much more. Now, we need to start the next chapter in this story – one where we truly protect our most precious resource. So, let this Water Festival remind us not only of what we stand to lose, but of what we can protect, what we can build, and what we stand to gain. A Europe where water is used efficiently. Where infrastructure is fit for the future. Where innovation turns water challenges into economic opportunities. And where every citizen and every business can rely on secure, clean and affordable water. Because water resilience is not optional. It is an investment in our economy, our communities and our future. Thank you. SPEECH/26/2000 <@rel_link@>
Speech Brief