The European Commission presented a new plan that has as main objective ensuring that enough good quality water is available to meet the needs of people, the economy and the environment.

The European Commission launched a Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources. The Blueprint's main goal is to ensure that enough good quality water is available to meet the needs of people, the economy and the environment. In particular, the strategy is aimed to achieve the already existing Water Framework Directive objective of good water status by 2015. For this, the Water Blueprint sets out a three-tier strategic approach consisting in improving implementation of current EU water policy by making full use of the opportunities provided by the current laws; increasing the integration of water policy objectives into other relevant policy areas; and filling the gaps of the current framework, particularly in relation to the tools needed to increase water efficiency. During the World Water Week 2012 held in August, it was highlighted that water basin management within the EU should be more integrated with spatial planning.

This strategy plan is needed because, according to the Commission, the EU waters are not doing well in terms of quality, despite improvements in recent years. Water quantity is of equal concern with water scarcity spreading in Europe and extreme events (like floods) increasing in too many Member States.

On the other hand, the Water Blueprint highlights that preserving water is not only about environmental protection, health and well-being. It is also about economic growth and prosperity. It is a way of ensuring that the EU water industry develops fully its growth potential and that all the economic sectors that depend on availability of water of a certain quality can prosper thereby creating growth and job opportunities. The Blueprint is supported by the Innovation Partnership on Water launched in May 2012.