Solidarity Water Europe is an international non-governmental organisation created in 1998, at the joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the International Secretariat for Water with the support of the French Committee of Water Agencies.

Did you know that...  

5 % of Europeans do not have access to safe drinking water and 10% lack access to sanitation ? Around 13,000 young people under the age of 15 die each year from water-related diseases.

In order for these people to benefit from their fundamental right to water and sanitation, it is crucial to protect our water resources. Europe has many great rivers, some of which pass through several countries (such as the Danube which runs through ten European countries, the Rhine which covers six, the Tajo and the Volga).

Our Mission

SWE's mission is to contribute to access to water and sanitation for the poorest populations, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, and to mobilise all stakeholders to apply the principles of integrated water resource management at local level.

To fulfil this mission, since 1998 SWE has developed many activities on both a European and more local scale, particularly in the Rhine basin and rural areas of Central and Eastern Europe. 

Our Objectives

• To promote democratic management of water,
• to educate and mobilise citizens, particularly young people,
• to foster fair access to drinking water and sanitation,
• to protect aquatic resources and environments,
• to develop exchanges of know-how and cooperation.

These constitute the main water stakes in Europe, as defined in the Strasbourg Declaration ("Water, source of citizenship, peace and regional development") and indeed, the priority objectives of Solidarity Water Europe.