The debate highlighted a clear message: freshwater, soil, and climate must be addressed as one interconnected system within the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030.” 

Ivelina Vasileva, Member of the Board of the EU Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters,” highlighted the need to move beyond sectoral coordination toward fully integrated water-to-ocean governance, emphasizing that Europe’s rivers, coasts, and seas are parts of one systemic challenge, she stated: “If we want coherent water-to-ocean governance, we must move beyond sectoral coordination to a truly integrated approach.”

Magdalena Andreea Strachinescu Olteanu, Head of Unit for Maritime Innovation, Knowledge and Investment (DG MARE), emphasized that innovation only matters if it reaches the market, calling for stronger investment frameworks, financing instruments, and investor readiness to support a competitive blue—and freshwater—economy. She clarified: “ Innovation only matters if it reaches the market. Financing, community building, and investor readiness are essential for a competitive blue—and freshwater—economy.” 

Ana Gavrilović, Member of the Board of the EU Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters,” pointed out that freshwater aquaculture remains under-recognized in policy frameworks despite being a major component of European aquaculture, and called for its stronger integration into EU strategies. She called for action “Freshwater aquaculture is a major part of European aquaculture, yet it is still not fully recognized in policy frameworks. This must change.”

 Marie Kubankova, Coordinator of the BIOEAST TWG Freshwater BBE and BIOEAST HUB CR, presented the updated Thematic Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda key principles of focused on freshwater  and underlined that integrating the Water–Soil–Climate Nexus into EU bioeconomy governance is essential for the resilience and competitiveness of the BIOEAST macro-region. Martin Kováč, Member of the BIOEAST TWG Freshwater BBE and advocate of the Water–Soil–Climate Nexus, stressed:”What happens on land forms hydrology, climate, and ultimately impacts the ocean. Local water planning is the key to making our strategies work.” He argued  that restoring small water cycles and implementing local water planning are fundamental to making EU strategies effective.  Kostas Soulis, Coordinator of the Path4Med project, demonstrated how Earth observation, sensors, artificial intelligence, and digital twins can trace nutrient flows across the soil–river–sea continuum, providing policymakers with actionable, evidence-based tools. Marton Pesel, DALIA & & EUSDR Priority Area 4 (water quality) Coordinator, presented the EU Strategy for the Danube Region as a model for transboundary cooperation, showing how macro-regional platforms can connect local action with European policy objectives.  Alexandre Galí Serra, representing the GreenHOOD project, showcased how nutrient circularity, co-innovation with regional stakeholders, and ecosystem restoration can rebalance nitrogen and phosphorus flows while supporting rural bioeconomy development.

The discussion focused on how freshwater systems must be fully integrated into the evolving EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the forthcoming European Ocean Act, emphasizing that rivers, soils, groundwater, and marine ecosystems form one interconnected system. Speakers stressed the urgency of moving from strategy to implementation through local water planning, regenerative land management, circular aquaculture, and stronger science–policy–finance alignment.

The session concluded with a call to fully integrate freshwater priorities into the forthcoming European Ocean Act and ongoing EU consultations—positioning the Water–Soil–Climate Nexus at the heart of Europe’s competitive and regenerative bioeconomy. The session concluded with a call for stakeholders to actively contribute to ongoing EU consultations like the European Ocean Act - Call for evidence and the Call for Evidence | Public Feedback on the New European Ocean Observation Initiative, particularly ahead of the European Ocean Act, to ensure freshwater priorities are fully reflected. 

This type of policy expert discussions are taken into consideration for regular updates of the BIOEAST Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda on Freshwater based Bioeconomy related priorities. 

Watch the discussion on YouTube

Special thanks to our host Biorefine Cluster and the Thursday Talks:

The Thursday Talks are webinars showcasing the activities of European projects in the fields of nutrient recycling and management, water recovery, waste to energy, biochemicals extraction, bio-based materials and value-chain assessment.