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A Water Blueprint – taking stock, moving forward

The “Blueprint” outlines actions that concentrate on better implementation of current water legislation, integration of water policy objectives into other policies, and filling the gaps in particular as regards water quantity and efficiency. The objective is to ensure that a sufficient quantity of good quality water is available for people's needs, the economy and the environment throughout the EU.

The Water Blueprint's time horizon is closely related to the EU's 2020 Strategy and, in particular, to the 2011 Resource Efficiency Roadmap, of which the Blueprint is the water milestone. However, the analysis underpinning the Blueprint covers a longer time span, up to 2050, and is expected to drive EU water policy over the long term.

The Communication and reports adopted by the Commission, alongside a variety of supporting background documents can be found here.

The Water Blueprint highlights that preserving water is not only about environmental protection, health and well-being, but it is also about economic growth and prosperity. It is a way of ensuring that the EU develops fully its growth potential and that all economic sectors have the water available they need for creating growth and jobs. The Blueprint is supported by the European Innovation Partnership on Water launched in May 2012.