Europe is facing a worsening crisis, with drought conditions spreading across the continent and prompting emergency water restrictions and temporary bans on non-essential water use.
Record temperatures have affected countries from Spain to Finland, while months of below-average rainfall and unusually high temperatures between April and June have intensified water shortages.
The World Weather Attribution service has linked the current drought conditions to these prolonged weather patterns, estimating that soil moisture deficits in 2026 are between five and 11 times more likely.
Agriculture and rivers hit by drought
The drought is having a significant impact on agriculture and water levels across Europe.
Corn production in France has fallen to its lowest level in 50 years, while Romania has lost more than one million hectares of agricultural land.
Falling water levels in rivers and lakes are also affecting tourism and transport. On the Danube, water levels have fallen to their lowest point since 1996.
The drought crisis in Europe is also contributing to the growing risk of wildfires.
According to EU figures, 500,852 hectares have already burned across the bloc, compared with 381,444 hectares during the same period in 2025.
EU water strategy targets long-term resilience
The EU is also facing the effects of decades of over-exploitation, pollution and poor water management, which have put additional pressure on available water resources.
The EU’s Water Resilience Strategy, adopted in 2025, aims to secure Europe’s long-term water supply and make the bloc more resilient to climate change.
One of its main targets is to improve water-use efficiency by at least 10% by 2030.
The roadmap contains more than 50 actions, 30 of which have been identified as critical. So far, three actions have been completed.
Three pillars for water resilience
The strategy is based on three main pillars.
The first focuses on restoring and protecting the quality and quantity of water by reducing pollution and over-extraction.
The second aims to create a “water-smart” economy by using digital technologies to monitor and manage water consumption and reduce waste.
The third seeks to guarantee access to clean and affordable water while encouraging water-saving habits and products with greater water efficiency.
As drought conditions continue to spread, the EU’s strategy is intended to address both the immediate pressure on water resources and the longer-term challenges posed by climate change.
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