The European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, acknowledged this Friday at the Europa Forum in Brussels that “no country” in the EU will meet the Water Framework Directive targets for 2027, which aim to achieve good ecological and chemical status in all water bodies.

Roswall pointed out at this event organised by the New Economy Forum in the EU capital that, nevertheless, this does not mean the EU is lowering its ambition in this area. “We all want and need clean water, not just for drinking, of course. Our industries need it too”, she added.

The European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, advocated this Friday for “investing” in nature and climate so that the EU does not lose its global competitiveness, although she acknowledged that the current international context is “difficult” for environmental protection and the fight against climate change.

At this briefing organised by New Economy Forum in the EU capital, Roswall emphasised that she has attended G-7 and G-20 meetings, as well as other international gatherings, such as the negotiations for a treaty to reduce plastic pollution, and has observed that “it is becoming difficult” to demonstrate ambition on environmental issues.

The European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, emphasised this Friday at the Forum Europa in Brussels that the European Commission will stimulate demand for biological products to help the EU meet its climate goals and gain competitiveness globally.

Roswall indicated at this briefing organised by New Economy Forum in the EU capital that the European Commission adopted a new bioeconomy strategy this Thursday that contributes “significantly” to job creation and economic growth in the EU, as it generated €2.7 trillion in 2023 and employs 17.1 million people (8% of total jobs in the EU).

The European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, said on Friday at the Forum Europa in Brussels that she hoped the entry into force of the EU Regulation on Deforestation, adopted in 2023 to ensure that products sold in the European Union do not come from deforested land, would be postponed for a year "very soon".

Roswall commented at this informative meeting organised by New Economy Forum in the EU capital that the European Commission has opted for this postponement for "many reasons", after the computer system was not ready at the end of last summer.

This regulation was approved in 2023 and its provisions should apply from 30 December 2024. However, EU institutions have been delaying this deadline to help companies and countries better implement the rules.

Indra Group CEO José Vicente de los Mozos welcomed at the Forum Europa in Brussels the defence spending strategy approved by the European Commission, but maintained that now is the time to go into detail on the specifics of the programmes. "The direction is clear, but it has to be made a reality, and as Saint Thomas said, seeing is believing", he stressed.

In his view, it is a priority for Brussels to "harmonise" investment priorities, because not all countries have the same capabilities and interests in defence. As far as Indra is concerned, he said he wants to be the “leader” of the defence industry in Spain and "co-leader" in Europe.

De los Mozos argued that if Spain contributes 33% to the financing of the European FCAS combat programme, it must receive 33% of the profits.