ISOE Policy Brief Presented in Brussels: Groundwater in Europe – Cornerstone for Resilience
On April 29, 2025, the research team of the regulate project, led by ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research, presented key findings from five years of European groundwater research in Brussels. At an expert lunch hosted in cooperation with the Representation of the State of Hesse to the European Union, the researchers introduced their new ISOE Policy Brief No. 12 “Groundwater in Europe: Cornerstone for Resilience” to an audience of around 40 participants from science, policy, and practice.
The policy brief addresses the growing challenges of groundwater management in Europe in the face of climate change, pollution, and increasing user conflicts. A central focus is on telecouplings—spatial interconnections where human activities in one region can have significant effects on groundwater systems in another. These long-distance effects are often overlooked in policy and planning, yet they play a crucial role in shaping local water availability and quality. For example, the seasonal rise in water demand on the Croatian island of Krk—driven largely by tourism—is met through long-distance water transfers from the mainland. This dependence creates pressure on groundwater resources far from the actual location of water use and highlights the structural interdependencies within Europe’s water systems.
The regulate researchers present concrete recommendations for sustainable and resilient groundwater governance. In addition to highlighting groundwater’s essential role for water security and biodiversity, the policy brief emphasizes the importance of considering cross-border and regional interdependencies in EU policy-making.
Participants in the Brussels discussion included representatives from EurEau, EuroGeoSurveys, the European Commission, the European Water Association, and IGRAC. The exchange made clear that future EU water governance must better integrate spatial interconnections to respond effectively to complex groundwater challenges.
The full policy brief is available for download here.