It is our pleasure, as chairman and vice-chairman of the European Water Partnership (EWP), to welcome you to the new website of the EWP and to give you an insight into the mission and activities of the Partnership.

The reason for setting up the EWP in early 2006 was the need for broader coordination and more awareness on Europe’s water challenges and the solutions available – a need that was clearly felt around Europe. Europe faces large challenges –floods, water scarcity and droughts, access to modern and safe sanitation, ageing infrastructure, pollution, climate change, etc. – but also has the main instruments in place to address these challenges. More coordination and cooperation enables Europe to make best use of the legislative frameworks and the innovative solutions and technologies available.

The EWP works to coordinate these efforts and strengthen cooperation between all stakeholders on water in Europe, based on the Water Vision for Europe. This Vision, which was set up as part of the Aquawareness programme provides a clear set of objectives for the European water sector. To achieve the Vision, the EWP together with its members and partners is setting up concrete activities with clearly visible impact, focused in three pillars: Aquawareness / Water Stewardship, the European Dialogue on Climate Change Adaptation and Water and the European Water House.

At this point we would like to take the opportunity to express our thanks to the members and partners of the EWP who cooperate in the work of the Partnership, brought together by a commitment to achieve the Water Vision, for their continuous cooperation and support of the work of the EWP.

The EWP is founded on the belief that all stakeholders need to be involved to address the water challenges. Therefore, its membership includes the governmental, private, research and NGO sector. Furthermore, the EWP works to step outside of the traditional boundaries of the water sector and include organisations from other sectors – sectors which are needed to address our challenges.

This website is a communication tool for all stakeholders and we welcome you to have a look around and get to know the EWP activities in more detail.

Tom Vereijken (Chairman)
Friedrich Barth (Vice-Chairman)