Strengthening geological expertise and knowledge exchange for Europe’s water resilience
On 21 September, the European Commission officially launched the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform in Brussels, bringing together representatives from civil society, business, research, youth and public institutions to contribute expertise and practical perspectives to the implementation of the EU Water Resilience Strategy.
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) is represented on the Platform by Yuliya Zhuk, who took part in the inaugural meeting and had the opportunity to exchange with Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy.
EFG’s participation reflects the essential contribution of geological expertise to Europe’s water resilience. Groundwater systems, aquifers, soils and the geological conditions underlying water infrastructure are fundamental to understanding water availability, managing resources sustainably and addressing the impacts of climate change.
Yuliya highlighted EFG’s contribution to the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform, emphasising the need to strengthen geological expertise and professional capacity across Europe. This includes improving the mobility and professional recognition of geologists, maintaining high ethical and professional standards, and investing in continuous professional development in areas such as hydrogeology, water management and climate resilience.
A resilient water future for Europe requires not only strong policies, but also qualified professionals with the geological knowledge to put them into practice.
From strategy to implementation
The first session, “Launch of the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform – Operation and Planning”, was chaired by Veronica Manfredi. The European Commission presented an update on the Water Resilience Strategy, the role of the Platform and the development of its work programme, followed by an exchange on members’ priorities and expectations.
The discussion highlighted a range of practical challenges that will need to be addressed to strengthen Europe’s water resilience. Particular attention was given to sponge landscapes and water retention, including the restoration of organic matter in increasingly dry and degraded soils. Agriculture was identified as a key area of concern because of its substantial water demand and water losses.
Participants also discussed the modernisation of water-related infrastructure to improve efficiency. Beyond physical investments, the discussion stressed the importance of “soft modernisation” — strengthening management practices, knowledge and skills alongside infrastructure.
The challenges faced by young farmers were also highlighted. Farmers taking over land may inherit degraded soils and ageing infrastructure while facing difficulties in accessing financing for investments. With agriculture often perceived as a high-risk sector, participants discussed the need for approaches that can facilitate investment in more resilient and water-efficient farming.
The Platform will establish dedicated subgroups to explore specific challenges and potential solutions. Discussions on sponge landscapes and water retention are particularly relevant from a groundwater and hydrogeological perspective, illustrating the importance of connecting water resilience measures with a sound understanding of subsurface systems.
Building a European community of water expertise
The second part of the event provided another opportunity to connect expertise across the European water community with the launch of the European Water Academy, a new initiative designed to bring together knowledge, expertise and experience from across the water sector.
The European Water Academy aims to create a European platform where water experts, researchers, professionals, organisations and policymakers can meet, exchange knowledge and strengthen the scientific and professional basis for addressing Europe’s water challenges.
The launch brought together more than 200 water experts from different backgrounds and parts of Europe. The diversity of perspectives highlighted both the depth of expertise already available across the water sector and the value of creating spaces where this knowledge can be connected and shared.
For the geological community, this interdisciplinary approach is particularly relevant. What happens beneath our feet is closely connected to the water above them. Groundwater, geology, climate, ecosystems and human activities form an interconnected system, and effective water resilience solutions therefore need to reflect these connections.
For EFG, both the Stakeholder Platform and the European Water Academy offer opportunities to strengthen dialogue between the geological profession and the wider water community, while ensuring that geological and hydrogeological knowledge contributes to the development and implementation of Europe’s water resilience agenda.
