Recap from the BioAgora project event: linking science and European policy
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Rivers and Lakes
Last week, we travelled to Ghent, Belgium, as we had been invited to participate to the BioAgora event as panellists. Our Freshwater policy officer Irene Duque, along with representatives from the European Commission, explored the challenges of implementing the EU freshwater aquis: the Water Framework Directive, and the new commers on scene: the Nature Restoration Law and the Water Resilience Strategy.
Irene presented the cross-sectoral challenges for river restoration underlining the importance of shifting the paradigm from nature as an interest, in competition with other interests, to nature as framing within which other interest can operate. Furthermore, she lamented at the deregulation agenda, lack of implementation ambition and drying up of funding resources, warning about the consequences of losing environmental civil society organisations in the democratic process: «If we don’t bring nature into the room, who will?»
The discussion highlighted that river restoration and water resilience are far more than environmental concerns. They are deeply connected to sectors such as agriculture, energy, innovation, and regional development. Participants explored these links through dialogue aimed at identifying key challenges, areas of tension, and shared opportunities, while outlining practical ways for coordinating action across different sectors.
The panel discussion highlighted the importance of collaboration across sectors to ensure effective and resilient freshwater ecosystem restoration in Europe.