This month, we spoke with Dr Maria Panayiotou, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, about the Cypriot Presidency’s vision for strengthening Europe’s water resilience and climate adaptation efforts. In this exclusive interview, she outlines the Presidency’s priorities in advancing the EU Water Resilience Strategy, bridging the gap between financial instruments and implementation realities, and promoting sustainable solutions for water-scarce regions. Dr Panayiotou also shares her perspective on the upcoming revision of the Water Framework Directive and the key actions needed to build a truly Water-Smart Society across Europe. Enjoy the interview below.

How is the Cypriot Presidency working to ensure that climate and water resilience translate into tangible legislative and financial outcomes before the end of your mandate?

The Cypriot Presidency has placed strong emphasis on translating climate and water resilience from strategic ambition into tangible goals. We have advanced the implementation of the EU Water Resilience Strategy while ensuring coherence with the upcoming integrated framework for European climate resilience and risk management. By having a political discussion at the Informal Environment Council in February 2026, we have adopted an integrated approach that links legislative progress with effective financing and improved coordination between EU instruments and Member States needs. The Cypriot Presidency is also promoting the mainstreaming of environmental priorities across EU policies and advocating for stronger alignment of the EU budget with climate and water objectives. Through close cooperation with the European Commission and stakeholder engagement, we are working towards converting policy commitments into concrete, scalable actions and investments.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities and the main challenges in bridging the gap between EU financial tools and Member States’ implementation realities?

The greatest opportunity lies in making EU financial instruments more accessible, coherent, and impactful, particularly by streamlining access procedures and strengthening the link between strategic priorities and project initiatives. Enhanced blending of grants with catalytic financing from private institutions such as the European Investment Bank can help mobilise large-scale investment in water resilience. However, significant challenges persist, including administrative complexity, uneven technical capacity across Member States, and fragmented funding structures. Bridging this gap requires stronger project preparation support, simplified governance frameworks, and targeted capacity-building to ensure that financial tools translate efficiently into viable, timely, and locally relevant implementation.

What would success look like, in practical terms, for the EU Water Resilience Strategy, particularly for vulnerable regions facing acute water scarcity such as Cyprus and the Southern Mediterranean?

Success would mean measurable shift towards a truly water-secure and climate resilient Europe. For vulnerable regions such as Cyprus and the Southern Mediterranean, this translates into diversified and reliable water supply systems, including large-scale reuse, sustainable desalination, and reduced water losses. It also means robust drought preparedness, advanced monitoring systems, and integrated basin management. Financially, success requires sustained and predictable investment flows. Institutionally, it means stronger cross-border cooperation and policy coherence. Ultimately, success is achieved when water scarcity is no longer a structural constraint to development, and resilience is embedded across all planning, infrastructure and governance systems.

Do you see the upcoming revision of the Water Framework Directive as an opportunity to better align it with the objectives of the Water Resilience Strategy, especially in areas such as water reuse and digitalisation?

The upcoming revision of the Water Framework Directive indeed presents a timely opportunity to reinforce its alignment with the Water Resilience Strategy. While the current Directive has been highly successful in establishing a robust environmental baseline, today’s water challenges require a stronger focus on resilience, circularity, and innovation. Enhancing provisions for safe and scalable water reuse, alongside promoting digital monitoring, smart metering, and data-driven decision-making, would significantly improve efficiency and responsiveness. The revision should maintain its environmental ambition while introducing greater flexibility for water-stressed regions, ensuring the framework is both future-proof and capable of addressing accelerating climate pressures across Europe.

A Water-Smart Society is one where the true value of water is recognised and realised. If you were to prioritise key actions today to make this vision a reality across Europe, what would they be?

Building a Water-Smart Society requires decisive action across several fronts. First, embedding water efficiency and conservation as principles across all sectors, supported by pricing mechanisms that reflect true value while protecting vulnerable users. Second, accelerating investment in resilient infrastructure, including leakage reduction, reuse systems, and digital monitoring. Third, strengthening education and public awareness to foster behavioural change. Fourth, scaling innovation through research and deployment of new technologies. Fifth, ensuring coherent governance by integrating water consideration across into all EU policy domains. Finally, mobilising inclusive financing mechanisms so all regions can transition towards sustainable, resilient, and efficient water management systems.

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