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Policies and strategies that define operations and give directions for further growth of sectoral activities play a key role for ongoing and future developments that impact European waters. Despite different priorities and investment cycles, over the past 15 years many sectors have shown attempts to acquire up-to-date knowledge and act on environmental aspects, including sustainable water resource management. This development has partly been set in motion by regulation and to a certain extent by private initiatives. Some private businesses, for instance the Scottish aquaculture industry or the European Mining Association, have incorporated sustainability in their codes of practice. Economic instruments, such as a pesticide tax in France and an electricity surcharge to fund sustainable hydropower in Switzerland, further represent a relevant trend. New technologies used in specific sectors have also helped, for instance drop irrigation to reduce pressure on scarce water resources for irrigation. More initiatives of this kind are needed across all key sectors impacting water resources. In particular, a consistent combination of multiple policy tools from the Water Framework Directive, the Common Agricultural Policy and the Energy & Climate Package is required.