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Commemorating the annual celebration of International World Water Day, the Commission published a Eurobarometer survey which reflects that 68% of Europeans think that water-related problems are serious. Thus, close to three quarters of Europeans call for more measures at EU-level to reduce water problems. Chemical pollution is cited as the biggest threat to water resources by a majority of Europeans (84%) followed by climate change (55%) and changes in water ecosystems (49%). Furthermore, droughts, floods and chemical pollution are seen as significant challenges.

Additionally, 62% of citizens also feel they are not sufficiently well informed, while 67% think the most effective means of reducing water-related problems would be awareness-raising about water-related problems. As possible solutions, citizens think on heavier fines for polluters, fairer pricing policy or financial incentives. In the light to these results, the European Commissioner for Environment, Janez Potočnik, stressed that the European Union has been working for years to improve water quality. So far, the EU helped more than 32 million people to gain access to improved water supply and 9 million to sanitation facilities. According to the survey, a majority of citizens thought that water quality has either improved (23%) or remained the same (25%) over the past ten years, while 44% believe it has deteriorated.

The European Commission supports research to help managing our water resources sustainably and defends that science can be the key for water solutions. Then, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) also supports water-related policies by carrying out direct research and actively looking for science-based solutions to challenges such as water quantity, water quality, extreme weather events, climate change, governance and innovation. The JRC assessment on water availability in Europe and Africa was its latest study in this regard.