EU Prepares to Enforce Water Use Reduction
(MENAFN) The European Commission is expected to urge member nations of the European Union to decrease their water consumption by at least 10 percent before 2030, as revealed by a preliminary strategy reviewed by the media.
This initiative would represent the EU’s inaugural directive focused solely on curbing water use across the region.
This anticipated move comes in response to mounting anxiety over persistent droughts and the overextraction of groundwater.
These environmental challenges have been intensified by a surge in destructive wildfires and severe flooding events, which have inflicted extensive financial damage on the EU and have pushed water supplies to unprecedented lows.
“We need to think about how we need to use water more efficiently,” EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall told the outlet, emphasizing that “when we have a shower, we need to think about it.”
Her comments underline the growing urgency for water conservation at the individual and policy level.
Restrictions are already taking shape in southern parts of Europe, where filling private swimming pools is currently prohibited.
Haris Sachinis, who heads Greece’s main water utility, Eydap, cautioned that if arid weather conditions continue, the Greek capital might face a total water shortage within two years.
Cyprus is also under threat, as Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou has indicated that 2025 may mark the third year in a row of drought for the island.
She added that this could place the year among the worst eight in terms of water reserves over the past fifty years.
In Sweden, authorities have enforced limitations on watering lawns with hoses in certain regions.
Meanwhile, in France and Spain, disagreements over reservoir management and access to water have sparked disputes between farming communities and environmental activists.
Last year, various environmental reforms introduced by the EU—such as restrictions on pesticide application and initiatives to cut water consumption—triggered massive demonstrations from farmers and agricultural organizations.
These protests occurred across several nations, including France, Germany, Spain, and Poland, reflecting widespread discontent over the potential impact on agricultural productivity.
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