New report – The future of water availability and use in the EU

A report on “The future of water availability and use in the EU – A foresight study and policy options to address water scarcity” was published (Scholten et al. 2025). The report was prepared for, and addressed to, the Members and staff of the European Parliament as background material to assist them in their parliamentary work. The study offers an in-depth analysis of water scarcity, availability, and usage in the face of climate change through a comprehensive foresight methodology that includes an extensive literature review, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and broad stakeholder consultation. It proposes scenarios reflecting future cooperation versus competition and low versus high openness to change, i.e.  1. Conserve & protect, 2. Let the games begin, 3. We can do this, and 4. All together now.  A range of associated policy options, divided into short-term options (up to 2030) and medium- to long-term options (up to 2050) have been defined: A. Develop and implement strategies and measures to reduce water use/consumption in times of water scarcity, B: Integrated EU-wide water strategy and legislative framework to mitigate water scarcity impacts,   C: Do things differently – Innovate and prepare for radical change, and  D: Business as usual – Regulate and innovate to preserve. The report aims at ensuring that both EU citizens and businesses have reliable access to adequate water resources. The report support the development of the upcoming EU Water Resilience Strategy.

A interview with one of the main authors can be found in the European Science-Media Hub (European Parliamentary Research Service), https://sciencemediahub.eu/2025/04/30/how-to-address-water-scarcity-in-the-eu-interview-with-stoa-study-author-maria-kottari/.

Full reference: Scholten, C., Kottari, M., Puerta Pereira, J., Erven, C., Garcia Gutierrez, J.,  Gewald Sieme, Oomens, I., Van der Duin, P., Van Lanen, H.A.J. and Zehnder, A. (2025). The future of water availability and use in the EU – A foresight study and policy options to address water scarcity. Report Scientific Foresight Unit (STOA), European Parliamentary Research Service, Brussels © European Union, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_STU(2025)765769.