Vewin

As Dutch Water Authorities, we welcome the upcoming Circular Economy Act. The Dutch Water Authorities share a long history of managing the Dutch regional water system, starting in the 13th century. Today, there are 21 water authorities with their own democratic administration, elections and taxation system. We treat around 2 billion m3 wastewater annually.

As water authorities, we spend approximately 4.5 billion annually on our infrastructure projects and services and activities for the management and maintenance of the maintenance of our assets in the Netherlands. As professional procurers, we want to use taxpayers' money effectively and efficiently.

Vewin, the Association of Dutch Drinking Water Companies, represents the collective interests of the public water utilities responsible for delivering safe and reliable drinking water across the Netherlands. As stewards of an essential public service, Dutch drinking water companies operate within a framework that prioritizes public health, sustainability, and long-term resilience.

Vewin, the Association of Dutch Drinking Water Companies, represents the collective interests of the public water utilities sector responsible for delivering safe and reliable drinking water across the Netherlands. Vewin welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the new Cybersecurity Act 2 that will repeal the former Cybersecurity Act Regulation (EU) 2019/811.

Vewin, the Association of Dutch Drinking Water Companies, represents the collective interests of the public water utilities sector responsible for delivering safe and reliable drinking water across the Netherlands. Vewin welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the simplification of the NIS2-Directive.

Since the new European Commission (EC) took office in December 2024, the European Union (EU) has placed greater emphasis on competitiveness, reducing administrative burdens, and simplifying legislation. This also applies to water and environmental policy. In December 2025, the EC presented a simplification package in the environmental domain, the so-called Environmental Omnibus.

The Union of Water Boards understands the challenges facing the European Commission in terms of competitiveness, strengthening the internal market and achieving environmental objectives in a more efficient, cheaper and smarter way. Simplification of legislation can be part of the solution. However, this should not lead to relaxation or deregulation.

Filed in Dutch · English published by the European Commission

The Netherlands is located in the river delta of the Meuse, Rhine, Scheldt, and Ems rivers. This means we are literally and figuratively connected with our neighboring countries in the shared responsibility of ensuring sufficient and clean water. After all, water does not respect borders, and the climate is changing. We are already experiencing its effects.

PREVENTING DIVERSION OF IMPACTS BY CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION Because of the international river basins, European countries are literally and figuratively connected to each other. Within river basins, problems in the European water system can be passed on to downstream areas or future generations. At the moment, there are still too few binding agreements in river basins to meet the challenges of the future.

The Union of Water Boards represents 21 water boards working in the Netherlands on strong dykes and clean and sufficient water. This includes strengthening dykes and providing space for rivers, purifying sewage and steering water levels RENURE is a new type of manure in addition to livestock manure and chemical fertilisers.

Filed in Dutch · English published by the European Commission

De Unie van Waterschappen spreekt haar steun uit voor dit initiatief, onderschrijft de meerwaarde ervan en benadrukt graag dat in de Nederlandse context al relevante praktijkervaring is opgedaan die wij actief willen delen en inzetten om constructief bij te dragen aan de verdere uitwerking en implementatie van dit voorstel.

1. Nuance Effectiveness: Digitalisation can help with better demand forecasting, early detection of leakages, smarter maintenance, energy efficiency, better monitoring of sources and faster detection of drought, salinisation or pollution.

Filed in Dutch · English published by the European Commission

Vewin, the Association of Dutch water companies, represents the collective interests of the public water utilities responsible for delivering safe and reliable drinking water across the Netherlands. Vewin welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the call for evidence to simplify the Defence and sensitive security procurement Directive.

The Association of Dutch water companies (Vewin) has read the questions from the European Commission regarding Directive 2014/32/EU regarding the Measuring Instruments Directive carefully. Vewin would like to react to this call for evidence, because the measuring instruments used by the Dutch drinking water companies would legally fall under the scope of this Directive.