Under the regulatory point of view, the water sector finds different regulatory models according to the level of regulation taken into consideration (whether global, regional, or local/national).183 With specific regards to the digitization of water, the policy brief by the EU Commission states that, in the current situation, digital solutions are not sufficiently integrated into EU water policies. In particular, EU policies are missing a coherent terminology and clear definitions of digitization in the water sector.184 Also the UfM underlines that the existing regulatory framework “may not fully support the adoption and integration of digital technologies in the water sector.”185 A similar stance has been recently taken by the EU Commission within its European Water Resilience Strategy of 2025.186 To face the regulatory barriers in the sector at stake, the policy brief and the UfM report propose policy recommendations with the aim to create an enabling environment for digital transformation. The European Commission has also announced the adoption – by 2026 – of an Action Plan targeted to deal with the specific challenges of the water sector. Such Plan will include two main pillars: i) deployment of digital solutions through funding and knowledge-sharing to build up digital skills and encourage technology transfer in the water sector; and ii) support to water data sharing by fostering the development of national data portals to overcome fragmentation and make data easily findable, accessible free of charge, interoperable, and reusable, in line with the requirements of the Open Data Directive.187 Given the importance of digital transformation in the water sector (and in the WDN), several EU projects are carried out in this domain. The Mediterranean region (especially in Spain, Italy, Greece, Israel, Turkey, Tunisia) has experienced remarkable efforts in digitization processes in the water sector.188 Spain is the first country in the region in implementing digitization plans in the water sector. In particular, the PERTE plan for the digitization of the 183 G. Napolitano, Acqua e cibo, cit., p. 302. 184 U. Stein, et al., Digitalisation in the Water Sector, cit., p. 6, 9-10. 185 UfM, Digital Transformation for Water and Sustainable Development, cit., p. 7. 186 European Commission, European Water Resilience Strategy, cit., point 3.1, p. 12. 187 Directive (EU) 2019/1024 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on open data and the re-use of public sector information. See European Commission, European Water Resilience Strategy, cit., point 3.3, p. 15-16. 188 For an analysis of such experiences see UfM, Digital Transformation for Water and Sustainable Development, cit., p. 9. 462 FRANCESCO GASPARI | LUIGI CAMERIERO
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