On 12 May, the Danube Water Program hosted a “KnowNow” webinar on the European Green Deal and its implications for the water sector in the Danube region. To sum up 75 densely information-packed minutes, change is coming fast – and it will be huge.

The European Green Deal is the new growth strategy for the EU. It aims to create a climate-neutral, fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy – and has enormous implications for the water sector.

Ms. Bettina Doeser, Head of Unit, DG Environment, European Commission walked the audience through the related water policy. Her fast-paced 30 pages presentation covered 15 separate strategies, 19 water-relevant initiatives and their implications for the future of the water sector, from Circular Economy Action Plan, Biodiversity Strategy and Farm to Fork Strategy to Energy System Integration, Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Zero Pollution policies. She also mentioned that the related investment plan for the period 2021 – 2024 alone is 750 billion Euros, and that it brings huge investment opportunities for the water sector.

Examples for successful green investments were provided by Mr. Marco Beros of the European Investment Bank, the worlds largest lender to the water sector. He introduced the audience to four current green investment projects in European countries.

Simon David Ellis, the World Banks Western Balkans Program Leader, then added the practical perspective of a region that wrestles with multiple challenges, especially post-COVID, and will face additional demands implementing the Green Deal – demands which, Mr. Ellis said, can only be met by close cross-border cooperation and far-reaching policy changes.

To watch the recording of the whole event, to review a summary and to access the presentation materials, please follow link below.