In mid-March, the Commission wanted to present a comprehensive strategy for sustainable water use in Europe - now it has backed down - there is no longer any talk of a specific date for publication. According to the Commission President, the water strategy should be a priority at the end of this legislative period!

Water is one of our most precious resources that we need to protect across Europe. Droughts and floods have a devastating impact on our agriculture, our ecosystems and our towns and villages. That is why we cannot afford to delay action to safeguard our water resources and ensure the resilience of our environment to the harsh realities of climate change.

We are at a crucial point where the health of the planet and our future are at stake. The European Commission's decision to suspend the Water Resilience Initiative is therefore bad news!

Together with other Members of the European Parliament, I have signed a letter calling on the Commission to keep its promise and finally make water a top priority. There is an urgent need for action and only together can we in the EU protect the precious resource of water!