Commissioner Roswall's speech at the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform

The Water Resilience Strategy is based on a simple but powerful principle – that we can never truly deliver water resilience unless every actor in the complex water ecosystem works together.

That's what today is about, and that's what the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform is about.

So, I am delighted to welcome to all to this official launch.

Let me start by congratulating all members and observers.

We have policy makers, NGOs, academia and research organisations, regional organisations, youth actors, financial institutions and industry.

This room is overflowing with experience and expertise.

It is more than an audience - it is a community of problem solvers, who you will work with for the next 5 years to support the implementation of the Water Resilience Strategy.

I also want to thank the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee for partnering with us to establish this Platform, and for hosting us today.

I can think of no better partners than these two institutions that give voice to the regions, cities, industries, SMEs and civil society across Europe.

The diversity in this room, this broad membership, and this knowledge, give me hope for the future.

This summer was a stark reminder that the time for action is now.

One extreme heatwave after another, devastating wildfires and likely the most expansive drought in living memory.

And the impact on our communities, on our economies, and on our precious biodiversity has been severe.

I will never forget the footage of terrified communities evacuated from their homes due to wildfires.

Or the images of Europe's great rivers, the arteries of our economy, running dry, with shipping reduced, power stations shut down, and algae blooming out of control.

The lessons here are crystal clear – and we cannot ignore them.

We need a more proactive approach to water – and I was delighted that President Von der Leyen announced plans for a new Water Initiative just last week.