Global warming and poorly thought-out urban planning are affecting more and more Europeans. This affects countries in the South of the continent in particular, with a lack of access to quality drinking water and water for agricultural and industrial needs. On 26 March 2025, during its 48th session, the Congress debated a report analysing the challenges of water resource management. Its members voted on a resolution and a recommendation aimed at combating the twin challenges of water waste and pollution. Local and regional elected representatives are central to ensuring the sustainable governance of water thanks to their planning responsibilities and their proximity to private users and businesses.
Co-Rapporteur Teuvo Hatva (Finland, ILDG) emphasised that water does not respect administrative and state borders and, as a result, it is necessary to implement a cross-border, multi-level, multidisciplinary approach involving digital technologies. He also spoke about the importance of innovations in infrastructure and urban planning.
Taking part in the debate, Theodoros Tzoumas, mayor of Skiathos - a popular Greek island that was devastated by unprecedented floods in September 2023 - spoke about the NURISH and Pathways 2 Resilience projects. These EU-funded initiatives are transforming Skiathos into a positive example of how to deploy climate resilience strategies and manage wastewater, as well as ensuring flood and forest fire risk prevention.
Mediabox interview with Thodoris Tzoumas
Water resources under stress: towards better local and regional governance
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