Briefing - Transboundary water governance: Competition and cooperation in a 'water bankruptcy' era - 27-04-2026
Water scarcity has become a structural issue, rather than a temporary crisis. Sustained pressure on water systems, due to rising demand, environmental degradation and climate change, has created lasting 'water bankruptcy' with significant consequences for public health, economic resilience, food security, social stability, and international security. Against this backdrop, effective governance to manage water resources, notably through coordination between various levels of governance and stakeholders ('integrated water resource management', IWRM) is of primary importance. This requires sustained investment, reliable data and strong institutions. However, IWRM implementation remains uneven across countries, notably as regards transboundary water resources. While many countries share rivers, lakes and groundwater reservoirs, existing cooperation remains incomplete and often ill-adapted to long-term scarcity. International legal frameworks provide guiding principles, but their translation into actual agreements is limited, fragmented and often weakly enforced. Some transboundary deals have contributed to sparing the human right to water from geopolitical tensions; however, water resources are increasingly instrumentalised in disputes and conflicts. Opportunities to strengthen cooperation and build trust between countries sharing the same watercourses ('riparian countries') include enhanced capacity-building, more effective and diversified financing, transparent data-sharing and a credible dispute resolution mechanism. Moreover, to sustainably adapt to water bankruptcy, water policies should encompass broader social and economic trade-offs beyond quantitative water allocations. The European Union's role in water diplomacy is part of its external action agenda, integrating cooperation on development, security and human rights. The EU promotes a nexus approach linking water with energy, food and ecosystems, at global level and through regional initiatives to support transboundary water management. The European Parliament acknowledges that water is a strategic priority for peace and security. It calls for stronger international engagement, improved enforcement mechanisms, and greater political commitment, including the creation of a dedicated EU representative to address international water-related risks and foster cooperation.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP
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