Jūrmala, Latvia, April 3, 2025 – WAREG concluded its 34th General Assembly on April 2–3, hosted by the Public Utility Commission of Latvia (PUC). Chaired by WAREG President Vera Eiró, the Assembly brought together European water regulators to adopt the 2025–2026 Work Plan, reinforcing WAREG’s leadership role in advancing regulatory cooperation, engagement with EU Institutions, and reinforced capacity-building activities.
In her opening address, Alda Ozola, Chair of the Board of the PUC, underscored Latvia’s commitment to enhancing cooperation among European water regulators through WAREG, highlighting the association’s role as a strategic platform for shared regulatory advancement.
The adopted Work Plan sets out clear priorities:
- Strengthening regulatory cooperation through benchmarking key performance indicators and assessing the impacts of the EU requirements on tariffs and wastewater management.
- Deepening institutional engagement with the EU institutions, notably by contributing to the upcoming EU Water Resilience Strategy and promoting the role of economic regulation.
- Expanding regulatory capacity among non-EU members via dedicated workshops and international partnerships.
Assembly participants were introduced to the enhanced WAREG Secretariat, reflecting a reinforced organisational structure and a bolstered presence in Brussels. These developments aim to better support Members and amplify WAREG’s institutional visibility and impact at the EU level.
The event also marked the launch of WAREG’s thematic Working Groups, directly tasked with driving forward the 2025–2026 Work Plan. These groups will convert strategic priorities into actionable outcomes through targeted technical cooperation and peer learning.
Additionally, the Secretariat presented plans for the 4th European Forum on the Regulation of Water Services (EFRWS), scheduled for Brussels on 4 December 2025. The Forum will bring together regulators, EU institutions, and stakeholders to exchange views on policy, investment, and regulation in the water sector.
WAREG President Vera Eiró remarked:
“The approval of this Work Plan signifies our collective ambition to reinforce WAREG’s leadership role. As Europe prepares for the new European Commission’s increased focus on water resilience, our efforts will be pivotal in shaping sustainable regulatory frameworks across the continent.”
The Assembly further consolidated WAREG’s commitment to leading regulatory innovation and cooperation in Europe’s water sector, underlining the association’s crucial role as a key stakeholder in the ongoing EU-wide discussions on water resilience and regulatory policies.