There are only two days left until the deadline for cities to join the Urban Water Agenda 2030 core group. The group will be composed of around 20 cities volunteering to share their technical expertise and strategic advice on the Urban Water Agenda that has been initiated by the European Commission. The Urban Water Agenda aims to build on the capacities and political leadership of local governments to advance sustainable water management in Europe. Interested cities should contact barbara.anton@iclei.org by 7 April

Cities that take part in the group will gain visibility for their commitment to sustainable urban water management and readiness to apply innovative solutions in the field of water resources, systems and services.

Recognising the strengths of local action for sustainable urban water management, the European Commission is looking to work with cities in accelerating the implementation of EU water policies and legislation, such as the EU Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive.

“Personally, I am heartened to see that through the upcoming Urban Water Agenda cities' role in safeguarding Europe's water resources will be put into the limelight,” said ICLEI Europe’s Barbara Anton.

Opportunities linked to the Urban Water Agenda were further explored in an inter-departmental meeting at the European Commission’s DG ENV on 3 April. Representatives of DG REGIO, DG CLIMA, DG RTD and EASME were invited to exchange ideas with ICLEI and EUROCITIES on taking the initiative further. The participants concluded that it will be essential to first bring cities themselves around the table to better understand their needs and concerns in urban water management.

For more information, download the terms of reference.