{"id":81652,"date":"2025-09-02T16:16:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T14:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kwrwater.nl\/actueel\/bezoek-kata-tutto-in-kader-van-waterweerbaarheid\/"},"modified":"2025-09-29T10:02:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T08:02:28","slug":"bezoek-kata-tutto-in-kader-van-waterweerbaarheid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kwrwater.nl\/en\/actueel\/bezoek-kata-tutto-in-kader-van-waterweerbaarheid\/","title":{"rendered":"The visit of Kata T\u00fctt\u0151 in the context of \u2018Water Resilience\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

As the first part of her visit to the Netherlands, Kata T\u00fctt\u0151, Chair of the European Committee of the Regions and rapporteur on Water Resilience, visited KWR in Nieuwegein<\/span>. In her role as Chair, she came to explore our region. The capacity of our water systems to <\/span>anticipate<\/span> extreme rainfall, drought, and other climate-related water challenges is the subject of a dedicated EU report. KWR Director Mari\u00eblle van der Zouwen seized the opportunity to <\/span>demonstrate<\/span> how we \u2013 through close national and international collaboration \u2013 actively contribute to enhancing \u2018water resilience<\/span>\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The <\/span>Association of Provincial Authorities and the Association of Dutch Municipalities organised the visit<\/span>. It brought together various involved organisations and their representatives around the theme: the Regional Water Authority De <\/span>Stichtse<\/span> Rijnlanden<\/span> (represented by Dijkgraaf Jeroen Haan), the Province of Utrecht (Deputy Has Bakker), and the Municipality of <\/span>Nieuwegein<\/span> (Alderman Marieke Schouten)<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Complex Challenges for the Water Sector<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

In his presentation, Dijkgraaf Jeroen Haan outlined the <\/span>water sector’s technical and administrative challenges<\/span> in light of<\/span> the European Water Framework Directive, the national policy framework \u2018Water and Soil Leading<\/span>\u2019,<\/span> and the regional approach. <\/span>In<\/span> recent weeks, the River Meuse was polluted due to discharges from a factory in Li\u00e8ge. This incident <\/span>highlighted the urgent need for <\/span>stricter European regulations<\/span>, cross-border agreements,<\/span> and cooperation<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kata T\u00fctt\u0151 emphasised that the Committee of the Regions\u2019 key role is to <\/span>indicate<\/span> what is <\/span>feasible<\/span> and implementable for local and regional authorities <\/span>regarding<\/span> EU legislation. In her view, the Netherlands could serve as a leading example. However, she expressed general concern about the slow pace of actual change<\/span>: <\/span>\u201cIf we know what lies ahead and the documents are on the table, then who is responsible for the next step?<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf we know what lies ahead and the documents are on the table, then who is responsible for the next step?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nKata <\/span>T\u00fctt\u0151, Chair of the European Committee of the Regions and rapporteur on Water Resilience<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Collaboration, Collaboration, Collaboration<\/h2>\n

Mari\u00eblle van der Zouwen stressed the importance of structural, results-oriented collaboration between governments, research institutes, implementation organisations, and technology providers (often SMEs) in her address<\/span><\/span>. <\/span>\u201cFor decades, we have contributed our expertise to EU projects and sectoral partnerships to develop solutions for improved water resilience and help implement the results in professional water practice.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mari\u00eblle shared six key messages with Kata T\u00fctt\u0151 and the other attendees:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n