Living Rivers Europe recommendations to strengthen the Water Resilience Strategy

The joint letter titled “Living Rivers Europe recommendations to strengthen the Water Resilience Strategy,” published on 27 May 2025, outlines key recommendations from the Living Rivers Europe coalition to enhance the European Union’s approach to water resilience. The coalition, comprising six environmental NGOs, urges the EU to prioritize the restoration and protection of freshwater ecosystems as central to its water resilience strategy.

Key Recommendations:

1. Prioritize Nature-Based Solutions: The coalition advocates for the systematic prioritization of nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands and removing barriers obstructing rivers, to enhance water resilience.

2. Implement Ecological Flow Regimes: They call for the adoption of sound ecological flow regimes for all rivers in Europe to ensure sufficient water remains in the landscape

3. Limit Net Water Abstractions: The letter emphasizes the need to enact measures that limit net water abstractions, particularly in water-stressed regions, to ensure that water savings from efficiency measures result in a net decrease in water abstractions

These recommendations aim to guide the EU in developing a comprehensive and effective water resilience strategy that aligns with environmental sustainability and addresses the challenges posed by climate change.