On World Water Day 2021, we celebrate all of the different ways in which water benefits our lives. We resolve to value water properly and safeguard it effectively for everyone.

This year’s theme focuses on the ‘value of water’. We should not forget that access to drinking water and sanitation are basic human needs and rights, and are fundamental for human dignity. At the same time, water is a shared resource, a critical ecosystem, and its use underpins various sectors of the economy.

Yet, access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water remains a challenge in many parts of the world.

Faced with the urgency of the global climate crisis, many regions in the world face more frequent, severe, and longer lasting extreme weather events, water cycle and temperature changes, or sea level rise putting people’s livelihoods and ecosystems under additional stress. This leads to severe situation of water scarcity, which can have seriously destabilizing effects on countries and regions, affecting peace, security and increases inequalities.

Water scarcity already affects a quarter of the world’s population. […] Based on our long experience of transboundary water management, the EU strongly encourages and where possible directly supports increased cooperation and transparency in water governance at all levels.

[…] Together we must give water its true value, safeguarding this most precious of natural resources for everyone. Let’s make every drop count.

Read more

Full statement