Question for written answer E-001265/2020 to the Commission Rule 138 Marco Dreosto (ID), Anna Bonfrisco (ID), Marco Campomenosi (ID), Massimo Casanova (ID), Rosanna Conte (ID), Gianna Gancia (ID), Alessandro Panza (ID), Annalisa Tardino (ID), Lucia Vuolo (ID), Elena Lizzi (ID), Mara Bizzotto (ID), Simona Baldassarre (ID) Subject: European commitment to projects to exploit water reserves The problem of drought is affecting ever wider areas of EU territory, including some that do not normally suffer from it, partly because of climate change and increased use of water for civil and industrial purposes. To prevent local shortages, projects have been launched in various EU Member States to reuse disused quarries which, once suitably waterproofed, can be converted into reservoirs for rainwater and surplus water from nearby rivers when they are in flood. The reserves created in this way at times of heavy precipitation are then available for use during subsequent dry times. R&D as a basis for such schemes is encouraged, inter alia, by the EU Institutions, as they can significantly boost employment and facilitate the remediation and upgrading of sites which in many cases have been polluted and abandoned, but could be converted for civil and productive use. In the light of this, could the Commission answer the following question? Does the European Union intend to recognise the importance of remediation of these areas for the purpose of storing water, providing an incentive for, and making into a priority, measures supported by investment of structural funding for the environment and agriculture with a view to the construction and modernisation of water engineering works? PE649.298v01-00.