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Water4All at the 22nd Euro-INBO Conference in Parma: Bridging Research and Policy for Better Water Management.

Water4All at the 22nd Euro-INBO Conference in Parma: Bridging Research and Policy for Better Water Management.

Water4All took part in the 22nd International Conference of Euro-INBO (International Network of Basin Organizations), held in Parma, Italy, from May 19 to 22, 2025. Hosted by the Po River District Basin Authority (ADBPO) and the Municipality of Parma, in collaboration with the French Biodiversity Agency (FBA), the event brought together representatives from EU Member States and beyond, water authorities, basin organizations, and key stakeholders working on the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and related policies.

  • Water4All at the 22nd Euro-INBO Conference in Parma: Bridging Research and Policy for Better Water Management.
  • 2025-05-19T00:00:00+02:00
  • 2025-05-22T23:59:59+02:00
  • Water4All took part in the 22nd International Conference of Euro-INBO (International Network of Basin Organizations), held in Parma, Italy, from May 19 to 22, 2025. Hosted by the Po River District Basin Authority (ADBPO) and the Municipality of Parma, in collaboration with the French Biodiversity Agency (FBA), the event brought together representatives from EU Member States and beyond, water authorities, basin organizations, and key stakeholders working on the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and related policies.
  • When May 19, 2025 to May 22, 2025 (Europe/Berlin / UTC200)
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A highlight of the conference was the Water4All workshop on May 20, organized by Pillar C, subtask C1.2 (Policy Support Working Group), titled: “Addressing EU Water Directives Governance Gaps: Solutions for Stakeholders’ Engagement”. The Policy Support Working Group focuses on identifying research and innovation needs to support the implementation of key European water directives (the Water Framework Directive, the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, and the Drinking Water Directive).

During the session, Benjamin Lopez (Water4All’s CEO) introduced the Water4All Partnership, emphasizing the importance of its integrated initiatives including the activity under Pillar A and C. Kor Van Hoof (VMM - co-leader of C1.2 together with OIEau/INBO) presented the work of the task and the main objectives of the session’s discussion: formulating solutions to implementation gaps. Maria Chiara Sole (ISPRA) provided a detailed overview of the alignment strategic and systemic approach developed by ISPRA and UNIVPM (Polytechnic University of Marche) to coordinating and integrating regional, national, and international research and innovation (R&I) agendas, underlining its critical role in maximizing the impact of EU-funds through better coordination across various scales, technology readiness levels, and stakeholder communities.

The Parma workshop centred on addressing persistent gaps in stakeholder engagement, challenges widely recognized by Water-Oriented Living Labs (WOLLs) and other cooperation programs assessed within Water4All. Two case studies on stakeholder engagement were presented, both included in the Water4All Atlas of Water-Oriented Living Labs: the Canale Reale River Contract (Puglia Region, Southern Italy) and the Val d’Orcia Living Lab (AG-WaMED Project; Tuscany Region, Central Italy). These initiatives shared real-world successes and challenges in engaging local stakeholders in water management, offering valuable insights and practical lessons.

An interactive session allowed participants to contribute their perspectives on effective stakeholder involvement. Suggestions included increasing youth engagement in water governance, fostering peer-learning exchanges, and promoting a stronger sense of territorial belonging. These insights will help shape the forthcoming guidelines on solutions and implementation strategies, which aim to support more inclusive and effective policy execution (following the gap analysis report published in July 2024).

Looking ahead, Water4All will continue to host stakeholder workshops and webinars to refine tools and support broader adoption of best practices. Our goal remains clear: bridging science, policy, and society to build a more resilient and secure water future.