Ongoing
Water Sensitive City
News
About the Partnership
Our aim is to help European cities become more resilient, more sustainable, and more climate-adapted − by putting water at the very heart of urban development.
Launched in November 2024, the Urban Agenda for the EU Water Sensitive City (WSC) Partnership was established in a context in which cities of all sizes face increasing water-related challenges (excess, scarcity, competing demands).
In response, the WSC Partnership envisions a future where European cities become more resilient, sustainable, and climate-adapted by placing water sensitive design at the heart of urban policies.
This transformation will be driven by the principles of a Water Sensitive City, a city in which urban water management not only addresses functional needs but also enhances the overall urban environment and climate adaptation.
The Partnership is composed of 23 partners representing national and regional authorities, urban authorities, European umbrella organisations, other stakeholders, and the European Commission.
Thematic Focus
From January to June 2025, the Partnership undertook an intensive collaborative process to define the thematic focus of this Orientation Paper. Building on the findings of the Ex-Ante Assessment, a series of focused sessions and working meetings, both online and in-person, enabled the identification and consolidation of key areas where coordinated urban action can generate tangible impact. As a result of this collective effort, four thematic areas were identified: Integrated Water Management & Resilience, Water-Sensitive Urban Planning and Investments, Smart Water Operation & Digital Innovation, Governance, Awareness, Financing & Capacity building.
The Orientation Paper specifies the potential outputs and expected impacts of each thematic area, as well as the contributions of each theme to the three UAEU pillars (Better Funding, Better Knowledge, Better Regulation).
This process has laid a solid foundation for the next phase: the design of the Action Plan.
Integrated Water Management & Resilience
The topic focuses on developing a systemic, integrated approach to urban water management, focusing on efficiency and circularity, climate adaptation and strengthen urban resilience through strategic planning and inclusive governance.
Water-Sensitive Urban Planning and Investments
The topic focuses on evaluating the adoption of different types of water-sensitive investments, based on Urban Planning decisions taken in a local/regional context. It also considers the interconnection between water and energy systems.
Smart Water Operation & Digital Innovation
The topic explores how to best support the adoption of Data-Driven, AI and Digital tools in Water Management and Operation, based on innovation and applied research.
Governance, Awareness, Financing & Capacity Building
The topic focuses on creating an enabling environment for water as a valuable resource for a prosperous and sustainable future by strengthening multi-level governance, fostering public awareness and engagement, developing innovative financing models, and building local capacity through knowledge exchange.
The topic focuses on developing a systemic, integrated approach to urban water management, focusing on efficiency and circularity, climate adaptation and strengthen urban resilience through strategic planning and inclusive governance.
The topic focuses on evaluating the adoption of different types of water-sensitive investments, based on Urban Planning decisions taken in a local/regional context. It also considers the interconnection between water and energy systems.
The topic explores how to best support the adoption of Data-Driven, AI and Digital tools in Water Management and Operation, based on innovation and applied research.
The topic focuses on creating an enabling environment for water as a valuable resource for a prosperous and sustainable future by strengthening multi-level governance, fostering public awareness and engagement, developing innovative financing models, and building local capacity through knowledge exchange.
Members
By clicking on the symbol 
, in the top left corner, you will be able to see the different layers of this map.
National authorities
- Ministry of Regional Development (CZ)
- Ministry of Climate (EE)
Regions
- Intermunicipal Community of Coimbra Region (PT)
Cities (Urban Authorities)
- Municipality of The Hague (NL)
- Municipality of Turin (IT)
- Municipality of Enschede (NL)
- Elche City Council (ES)
- Municipality of Roman (RO)
- Municipality of Halandri (EL)
- Municipality of Viimsi (EE)
- Kalocsa City Municipality (HU)
European/ national city umbrella organisation
- Council of European Municipalities and Regions - CEMR
- Resilient Cities Network
Other stakeholders
- Cetaqua, Centro Tecnológico del Agua (ES)
- Águas e Energia do Porto (PT)
- Acondicionamiento Tarrasense Associación - LEITAT (ES)
- Major Development Agency Thessaloniki - Local Government Organization
(EL) - Commonspace Co-op (EL)
European institutions
- European Commission Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO)
- European Commission Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER)
- European Commission Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV)
- European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)
- European Commission Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM)
Documents
EUI - Call for City-to-City Exchanges
The call for City-to-City exchanges is open on a continous basis.
Check the details and apply to benefit of other city experiences to tackle your sustainable urban development challenges.