The European Commission has told member states to treat new water supply as a last resort, placing it below demand cuts and reuse in the recommendation that accompanies its water resilience strategy. The recommendation on the water efficiency first principle, published on June 4, 2025, sets an order of priority. Curbing demand and over-abstraction comes first, then efficiency by design and reuse, with increased supply described as “the last resort option”. Measures still in progress include a Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform, a European Water Academy, a Water Smart Industrial Alliance, a Water Resilience Investment Accelerator, a Copernicus Water Thematic Hub and a Knowledge and Innovation Community. A European Parliament report put member states’ annual water investment needs at €77 billion, with a financing gap of about €25 billion a year.