Commissioner Roswall's keynote speech at the event "Water - A Key Resource for Competitiveness, Quality of Live, and Resilience"

Minister Schneider, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

This past summer, as Europe was gripped by drought, as our soils were sucked dry and our rivers ran low, a colleague of mine mentioned Goethe's poem "Song of the Spirits over the Waters" (Gesang der Geister über den Wassern).

Goether famously used water as a metaphor for the human soul, fate, and the vital energy of nature.

That comparison strikes me again, here today, as we gather to discuss the power of water.

As we discuss its fundamental importance to our economic security, food and energy security, industrial security, nature, health and so much more.

So, I am delighted to be here in Berlin.

And let me begin by thanking Minister Schneider for engaging so positively and productively in this Structured Dialogue. 

I also want to thank everyone else involved:

We began almost a year ago with three crucial, connected goals.

First – to boost the implementation of water legislation and push Europe towards water resilience.

Second – to discuss how the Commission can support this effort.

And third – to profile examples of excellence that can inspire other Member States.

I am grateful that the process led to a deep and open exchange.

It has helped us to better understand the concrete challenges facing Germany and German stakeholders.

And it allowed us to identify the areas where action would have decisive benefits.

Today's signature with Minister Schneider is the first in a series, with other Member States to follow.

So, Germany is, as in many other things, setting a positive example.

With this joint statement and building on the German Water Strategy, Minister Schneider and I reaffirm our commitment to EU legislation and to building a water-resilient Germany.

And it couldn't come at a better moment.

Water has become one of the defining strategic issues of our time.