The EU Commission has set out a bold and comprehensive plan for European recovery which will require massive public and private investment. This plan, based on solidarity and fairness, seeks to boost the green and digital transitions, and make the European economy fairer, more resilient and more sustainable for future generations. Forceful action is required to close the overall public and private investment gap of at least EUR 1.5 trillion, to repair the immediate economic and social damage caused by the pandemic, and set the Union firmly on the path to a sustainable and resilient recovery.

Water, as a vital good for society and the environment, and a critical input for the economy, represents a key aspect of the recovery potential of EU Members States, especially through the large externalities it generates. The aftermath of the pandemic crisis offers a unique opportunity to boost the resilience and sustainability of greener Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) services across Europe by supporting investments targeted towards ending addressing water emerging pollutants, strengthening the polluter-pays and cost-recovery principles in the future reforms of EU water legislation, incentivizing innovation and digitalization of WSS services, or addressing climate change and the pandemic impacts on WSS services through water risk-based approaches that sustain water security.

The FSR is holding a webinar to discuss these topics and explore how the EU Commission, Regulators, and Utilities can contribute to build resilient, sustainable and green water and wastewater services.