2026-09-22 05:30Press release
Ragn-Sells and industry partners urge EU action on water
Ragn-Sells and six European industry partners have submitted a joint statement urging EU policymakers to recognise water resilience and water management technologies as strategic enablers of Europe's net-zero industrial transition in the Industrial Accelerator Act.
The statement, Advancing Water Resilience for Europe's Net-Zero Industry, welcomes the European Commission's proposed Industrial Accelerator Act while calling for measures that better recognise water as a critical condition for industrial competitiveness, resilience and growth. The joint statement was submitted to the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission by Ragn-Sells, Veolia, Grundfos, GF+, Saur, Suez and Wilo.
"Europe's industrial competitiveness and climate ambitions depend not only on access to energy and raw materials, but also on access to sustainable water management. Water resilience is no longer a nice-to-have environmental consideration, but a prerequisite for industrial development,” says Pär Larshans, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ragn-Sells.
The companies support the objectives of the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act to strengthen Europe's industrial competitiveness, accelerate decarbonisation and improve investment conditions for strategic sectors. At the same time, they argue that accelerated permitting procedures must be complemented by measures that address water availability, water quality and the capacity to treat and reuse water.
“Water scarcity could put nearly 15 percent of the euro area's economic output at risk, according to the European Central Bank. Water resilience must be treated as a strategic enabler, particularly for energy-intensive and net-zero industries as well as cooling-intensive digital infrastructure," says Pär Larshans.
The statement highlights three areas where water-related constraints can affect industrial development: operational continuity, investment certainty and the feasibility of industrial decarbonisation projects. The signatories therefore encourage policymakers to strengthen water resilience and support the deployment of advanced water management solutions alongside broader industrial acceleration measures.
To this end, the companies propose a targeted amendment that would recognise water management technologies and equipment as strategic net-zero technologies under the EU's Net-Zero Industry Act. This would ensure that the acceleration areas defined in the Industrial Accelerator Act also encompass such technologies and equipment, making it clear that they are needed for the fulfilment of the objectives of the Act. According to the signatories, this will strengthen Europe's resilience, improve conditions for industrial investment and support the scale-up of net-zero manufacturing across Europe.
For more information, please contact
Pär Larshans, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ragn-Sells Group, +46 70 927 29 63, par.larshans@ragnsells.com
Debby Porter Laffitte, Press Officer, +46 70 927 24 00, press@ragnsells.com
Pär Larshans, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ragn-Sells Group, +46 70 927 29 63, par.larshans@ragnsells.com
Debby Porter Laffitte, Press Officer, +46 70 927 24 00, press@ragnsells.com
Topics: Debate & Opinion
About Ragn-Sells Group
The environmental company Ragn-Sells converts waste into raw materials that can be used over and over again. Ragn-Sells drives the transition to a circular economy through solutions that reduce its own and other actors' environmental and climate impact. Ragn-Sells is a family owned corporate group founded in 1881. The company operates in five countries and employs over 2,700 people. In 2025, Ragn-Sells’ turnover was 9,120 MSEK. www.ragnsells.com
Contacts
Press Officer
- press@ragnsells.com
- +46709272400
Powered by Notified