Climate change is widely recognised, and commitments to prevent and minimise its causes and to mitigate its adverse effects were agreed upon by many countries. The EU and its Member States have implemented strategies to achieve the objectives for reducing greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol and are driving forces in the negotiations for more ambitious reduction targets. However, even if these commitments are fully implemented, it must be assumed that significant changes in climate conditions will occur, impacting on water resources and water systems in Europe. Scientific evidence suggests that climate change will result for example in more frequent and severe extreme events (floods and droughts) and that it will have long term effects on the availability of water in different regions in Europe as well as on the quality of water and water related ecosystems. Water management needs to take these effects into account, and long term strategies for water dependent economic sectors need to be designed with a view to their vulnerability and their options for adaptation.