Benelux, Climate, Durability

Benelux joins forces to tackle water and climate challenges

03 Dec. 2025

On 3 December, Luxembourg’s Minister Serge Wilmes opened the Benelux+ Water Conference in Schengen, organized by the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Biodiversity in cooperation with the Benelux General Secretariat. The event brought together 25 representatives from Benelux countries and partner regions to strengthen cross-border cooperation in addressing challenges such as flooding, drought, and climate change. Members of the Benelux College were also present.

In his opening remarks, Wilmes emphasized: “Water knows no borders. Only through cooperation can we increase our resilience and build a sustainable future.”

The conference focused on four key themes:
• Water Smart Economy: circular solutions to optimize water use and reduce waste.
• Preparedness and recovery: improved warning systems and rapid coordination during floods, with examples from Wallonia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
• AI for water management: Luxembourg presented a digital twin for water systems to enhance forecasting and decision-making.
• Benelux+ and EU: exchange of best practices on cross-border monitoring and cooperation, with contributions from Flanders and Slovenia.

The conference reaffirmed Benelux’s role as a pioneer in European cooperation and the shared ambition to achieve sustainable and resilient water management through innovation, research, and regional solidarity.