On 8 December, IAWD Secretary General Katerina Schilling had the privilege to represent our community at the inaugural Water Resilience Forum, hosted at the premises of the European Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels.

It was a day dedicated to meaningful change: Organized by the European Commission in collaboration with the Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Committee of the Regions (CoR) in the wake of the adoption of the European Water Resilience Strategy, the first Water Resilience Forum brought together high-ranking policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, and civil society to chart the path toward a water-resilient EU by 2050. The roster of speakers included the Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, the President of the CoR, Kata Tüttő, and the President of the EESC, Séamus Boland.

In the face of increasing water scarcity, water quality degradation, and climate-related threats to both human well-being and economic competitiveness, the Forum discussed financing innovative water solutions, strengthening industrial competitiveness through water resilience, and scaling water efficiency from local to global action. Sessions on urban water challenges, digital transformation opportunities, and strategic upskilling initiatives completed the one-day program.

In the Session "Upskilling for Water Resilience – Inception for the European Water Academy", Ms. Schilling joined representatives from leading European associations such as the European Water Association, Aqua Publica Europea and Eureau as a panelist, emphasizing the critical role of capacity building and training in ensuring sustainable water services in the Danube region and Europe.

Key takeaways from this session were the vital role of national associations in delivering trainings in local languages, the importance of academia - private sector collaboration in the creation of quality training programs, and the necessity to bridge the growing workforce gap by making the water sector more attractive for young professionals.

The EU Water Academy, presented during the Forum, will be a cornerstone of the continent-wide efforts to develop a skilled workforce that is able to advance a water-resilient Europe!