New recommendations show how aligning EU policies can scale up sponge restoration to reduce flood and drought risks, improve water quality, support biodiversity and build climate resilience.

Europe’s water and climate resilience is under increasing pressure, with degraded soils, drained catchments and the loss of wetlands intensifying droughts and contributing to more destructive floods. In response, the EU-funded projects SpongeBoost, SpongeWorks, and SpongeScapes have published a joint policy brief, "Achieving Better Implementation of EU Policies by Restoring the Sponge Function". The brief provides recommendations to strengthen Europe's water and climate resilience by restoring the natural sponge function of landscapes – the ability of soils, wetlands, forests and floodplains to absorb, store and slowly release water. Together, the three sister projects combine policy guidance, scientific evidence and real-world implementation to advance sponge landscapes across Europe.

Europe has lost around 70% of its wetlands, 50% of EU peatlands are degraded, and 70% of EU soils are not healthy, reducing landscapes’ ability to retain water and intensifying drought and flood risks. The publication highlights how upcoming EU policy processes in 2026–2027 present a strategic opportunity. While sponge restoration is not a standalone solution for extreme events, the policy brief highlights it as a low-regret, catchment-scale approach that can complement other measures while delivering multiple benefits.

As political support for nature-based solutions (NbS) continues to grow, policymakers are increasingly recognising the need to enhance the natural sponge function of European landscapes, including through the 2025 European Water Resilience Strategy. The brief highlights that restoring Europe’s sponge function requires action across entire landscapes and river catchments, where soils, wetlands, forests and agricultural areas work together as one interconnected water system. Achieving this vision will depend on coordinated implementation across EU policies and funding mechanisms.

The policy brief identifies five priority actions to embed sponge restoration across EU implementation frameworks:

• Embed sponge restoration as a low-regret, catchment-scale solution in River Basin Management Plans and Flood Risk Management Plans under the Water Framework and Floods Directives.

• Advocate for the inclusion of targeted measures in consultation and planning processes related to the implementation of the Drinking Water Directive.

• Operationalise the European Water Resilience Strategy's Sponge Facility as a cross-directorate investment and delivery mechanism, linking finance, planning, and monitoring.

• Align EU instruments (CAP, Cohesion Policy, LULUCF, and Nature Restoration Regulation) around catchment-scale sponge targets, rather than sector-specific interventions.

• Introduce measurable sponge-function indicators into EU monitoring and reporting systems (soil health, water retention, flood attenuation, drought buffering).

By aligning water, agriculture, climate, nature and funding policies around catchment-scale sponge restoration, Europe can strengthen resilience to droughts and floods while delivering benefits for biodiversity, water quality and climate adaptation.

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SpongeBoost (101112906), SpongeScapes (101112738), and SpongeWorks (101156116) receive funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme. SpongeScapes and SpongeWorks also receive funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)/HM Government.

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the EU nor CINEA can be held responsible for them.