Eastern Macedonia–Thrace Governor holds high-level meetings in Brussels on Water Resilience and Climate Preparedness
The Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Christodoulos Topsidis, held a series of high-level meetings in Brussels on March 5, 2026, engaging with senior European officials to promote regional cooperation on water resource management and climate resilience.
During his visit, Topsidis met with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, as well as the Vice President of the European Commission and EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto.
Launch of European Regions Alliance for Water Resilience
At the center of the discussions was the newly formed Alliance of European Regions for Water Resilience and Climate Change Preparedness, a cooperative initiative aimed at strengthening sustainable water management policies and improving regional readiness for climate-related challenges.
The initiative was jointly presented to Metsola by Topsidis alongside regional leaders from Emilia‑Romagna in Italy and Region of Murcia in Spain. The alliance seeks to foster collaboration among European regions in addressing growing environmental pressures on water resources.
According to the delegation, the initiative aims to encourage coordinated policy action, knowledge exchange, and investment strategies that will help protect water resources while strengthening the resilience of local communities to climate change impacts.
Discussions with EU Cohesion Commissioner
During a separate meeting with Commissioner Fitto, the Greek regional delegation highlighted the alliance’s potential to support EU-level cooperation and facilitate projects that enhance environmental resilience and regional sustainability.
The discussions also explored opportunities for partnerships and funding frameworks that could enable European regions to implement water management policies and climate adaptation measures more effectively.
Participation in the Committee of the Regions
Topsidis and his delegation also attended the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions as honorary guests, where the new regional alliance was presented during a discussion on the future of water resource management in Europe.
The delegation included Theodoros Markopoulos, Deputy Regional Governor of Kavala, and European affairs adviser Antonis Gravanis.
“Regions Have a Key Role in Water Policy”
In a statement following the meetings, Topsidis emphasized the growing importance of regional authorities in shaping European environmental policies.
“The presence of this alliance in the highest institutional bodies of the European Union confirms that European regions have a substantial role in shaping major water policies,” he said.
He added that the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace intends to actively contribute to the dialogue with proposals and initiatives aimed at the sustainable management of water—one of the most critical natural resources for the future of European societies.
