The European Commission and Belgian regional leaders signed a joint statement on Monday (19 Oct) strengthening water resilience in Belgium.
The statement sets out shared priorities to achieve good water status across the country, along with specific regional commitments.
It was signed in Leuven by Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy; Jo Brouns, Flemish Minister for Agriculture and the Environment; Yves Coppieters, Walloon Minister for Health and the Environment; and Ans Persoons, Brussels State Secretary responsible for water policy.
Shared priorities across Belgium
The shared priorities include:
- Working towards restoring and protecting the water cycle
- Tackling chemical pollution including PFAS
- Supporting more sustainable agriculture
- Building a water-smart economy
- Ensuring clean and affordable water services
- Improving governance and cross-border cooperation
Protecting water ecosystems, restoring the water cycle and strengthening resilience to floods and droughts are central to the agreement. All three regions commit to accounting for the water needs of rivers and ecosystems when managing water scarcity, and to coordinating the removal of barriers on shared watercourses.
The statement also gives rivers more room by restoring floodplains and using nature-based solutions to reduce flood risks, support biodiversity and improve natural water retention.
The Belgian regions will also strengthen cooperation with farmers, retailers and researchers to expand the market for organic products and reduce pollution from fertilisers and pesticides.
The agreement calls for stronger action on persistent pollutants, including PFAS and pesticides, alongside more systematic reviews of abstraction and industrial discharge permits.
It also highlights the need to improve water efficiency, make greater use of digital tools, upgrade wastewater treatment and mobilise public and private investment.
"For people across Belgium, today’s commitments are about protecting the water they drink, the rivers and natural areas they enjoy, and the jobs they do where water is essential. Healthier rivers and better water management can reduce the impact of floods and droughts, while stronger action against pollution will help safeguard water quality and protect people's health.
By working together across regions and borders, Belgium can better prepare for growing pressures on aquatic ecosystems and ensure clean water for all."
Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
Closer cooperation across sectors and borders will be essential. The regions will explore innovative financing solutions and continue their active involvement in the international commissions for the Scheldt and Meuse river basins.
Flanders will focus on investing in water resilience and tackling industrial pollution, including through its IMPULSE-Program.
Wallonia will invest a €300 million European Investment Bank loan secured in 2025 in restoring rivers in the Vesdre basin and support industrial frontrunners investing in water-efficiency and eco-innovation. It will also support cleaner agriculture.
Brussels-Capital Region will prioritise improving water governance and wastewater treatment.
The Commission — through various actions under the European Water Resilience Strategy — will support Belgium’s efforts to boost research and innovation, accelerate digitalisation, enhance skills, and facilitate public and private investments in green-blue infrastructure.
The joint statement is a result of the Commission services’ assessment of the third River Basin Management Plans, the second Flood Risk Management Plans, and in-depth discussions at the technical level where several areas for accelerated implementation and improvement were identified.
Background
The Commission is stepping up efforts to ensure the Water Resilience Strategy is implemented effectively and fairly across the EU and that no community is left behind.
Achieving Europe’s water resilience objectives by 2050 will require transformational change at every level. To this end, EU countries, cities and regions will all play a key role, alongside businesses, academia, young people, civil society and financial organisations.
Europe’s strongest path forward remains full implementation of the EU’s water legislation and the Water Resilience Strategy. This year’s extreme heatwaves underlined the urgency of stronger action on water resilience in Belgium, amid reports of high numbers of heat-related deaths, crop failures and unprecedented wildfires.
More information
Water Resilience Strategy | European Commission
Water Resilience Strategy Action Tracker | European Commission
- Publication date
- 19 October 2026
- Author
- Directorate-General for Environment
