Water Conference: Speeding up to a water resilient Europe. Towards an EU water resilience agenda
Mar 12, 2024
Water resilience is a critical concern within the EU, with countries and regions having to deal with drought, water scarcity, and increasingly severe floods. During the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council, this 1-day conference provided valuable perspectives and insights on water resilience in Europe.
The Water Conference featured presentations and in-depth panel discussions covering:
- Opening speech by Mrs. Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director-General of the Environment Department of the European Commission
- Key-note speech by Prof. Patrick Willems, professor on water engineering at KU Leuven: ‘Changing risks of hydrological extremes’
- Outline the future towards a water resilient Europe!
searching for accelerators at EU level and at regional level
- Flemish government - Mrs. Zuhal Demir, Minister of Justice & Enforcement Environment, Energy, and Tourism
- European Economic and Social Committee - Pietro Francesco De Lotto, President of the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI) of the European Economic and Social Committee
- European Committee of the Regions - Karl Vanlouwe, rapporteur EU Blue Deal European Committee of the Regions
- Italian Region Emilia-Romagna - Aki Ishiwa, Policy officer
- Panel discussion: Evidence based pathways to a water resilient Europe: actionable knowledge for decision makers
- A preview on the State of Water 2024 report (European Environmental Agency)
- VITO / VLAKWA - Dirk Halet, Strategic Coordinator at VLAKWA & Chair Research and Development Platform at Commission Integrated Water Management Flanders
- Water Europe - Hans Goossens, President Water Europe
- BOSAQ - Jacob Bosaer, CEO Bosaq
- Ragn-Sells Group -Pär Larshans, Chief Sustainability Officer
- Towards a water smart society: a discussion amongst Europe’s most prominent water stakeholders
- Europe Water Association - Wendy Francken, President
- SUMAQUA - Vincent Wolfs, general manager and business developer
- SWECO -Isabel Putseys, CSO & Expert Climate & Water planning
- Water Coalition / Living Rivers Europe - Claire Baffert, Senior water Policy Officer - WWF European Policy Office
- Closing remarks by Mr. Bernard De Potter, Water Director Flanders: Water resilience in a transboundary context
Afternoon events
- Boots on the ground: site visits to demonstration projects on water resilience
- Water in the City
- AB INBEV
- JustNATUREproject
- Smart Water Control on Campus Arenberg
- Restoring wetlands: Mechels Broek
A joint organization by Watercircle, Vlakwa, European Water Association, Minaraad en Vleva.
