An EU initiative to produce a vision document with the elaboration of a common research agenda that should integrate short-, medium- and long-term perspectives within a coherent dynamic strategy. The Communication ‘Environmental Technology Action Plan’ has identified the water supply and sanitation technologies as a topic to be supported through a European Technology Platform. The Water Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform will play an essential role in fostering effective collaboration between the research community, industry, policy makers, the financial community and other stakeholders. The overall objective of the Technology Platform will be to face the global challenge of ensuring safe and secure water supply for different uses and sanitation services through the development of sustainable technologies within the appropriate framework conditions. Moreover, its aim will be to promote step changes in the technological capacity of the European Water industry, with the aim of supporting and strengthening its competitiveness in the world market.