Home to over 3 million EU citizens and accounting for 97% of France’s maritime space, the French Overseas Territories (FOTs) make France the world’s second-largest maritime power and the EU the first. Yet, despite advanced EU legislation, these regions face water conditions that would be unacceptable elsewhere in Europe. EESC Info spoke to Sabrina Cajoly, an international human rights lawyer and NGO founder from the French Antilles. A member of the team behind the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) for a Water-Smart and Resilient Europe, Ms Cajoly highlighted the severe impact of water scarcity and pollution on the EU’s outermost regions — and outlined what the new EU Water Strategy would need to include in order to make a real difference in these territories.

From your perspective, how do water scarcity and pollution affect the daily lives and rights of people living in overseas territories?

Water scarcity and pollution disproportionately affect people in the French Overseas Territories (FOTs), often invisibly. These are not isolated issues, but structural problems driven by poor governance, chronic underinvestment and environmental degradation, and are increasingly worsened by climate change. Aside from daily inconveniences, these issues threaten fundamental rights like health, education and human dignity.

In Guadeloupe, water insecurity is a daily reality. Despite abundant water sources, residents can go for over a month without running water. When available, the water is often unsafe to drink. Schools and hospitals suffer repeated service interruptions. Children miss an average of 1.5 months of school each year due to water shortages, infringing on their right to education.

These shortages stem not just from infrastructure failures, but also from multiple forms of pollution. In Guadeloupe and Martinique, over 90% of the population has been exposed to chlordecone, a toxic pesticide used for decades in banana farming, long after it was banned in the USA and mainland France. For instance, between December 2024 and January 2025, a Guadeloupean municipality experienced five consecutive weeks without safe drinking water due to chlordecone contamination.

In French Guiana, mercury pollution from gold mining disproportionately harms indigenous communities, threatening their health, environment and way of life. In La Réunion and Mayotte, severe droughts and natural disasters have deepened inequalities. Hurricane Chido, which struck Mayotte in December 2024, devastated half the island – and many survivors still lack access to clean water today.

Residents bear the brunt of these crises. In these regions, where poverty is 5 to 15 times higher than in mainland France, families are forced to buy expensive bottled water and filtration systems – at costs far exceeding those on the continent.

This is not just a legacy of the past; it is ongoing. In June 2025, a court in La Réunion awarded compensation to 89 000 people for having endured years of undrinkable tap water. This landmark ruling highlights the scale and systemic nature of this issue.

Where do you see gaps in the EU’s water governance when it comes to addressing the specific needs of the outermost regions, and what could be done to improve this?

The EU’s water governance still shows significant gaps when it comes to addressing the specific needs of its outermost regions, including the FOTs.

FOTs are home to over 3 million EU citizens, span four oceans and represent 97% of France’s maritime space, making France the second-largest maritime power globally, and the EU the first. French Guiana alone is the size of Portugal; French Polynesia, the size of Western Europe. These regions house 80% of France’s biodiversity and play a key role in the EU’s economy, geopolitics and environmental footprint.

However, this strategic importance is not reflected in water policy outcomes. Despite advanced EU legislation, FOTs face chronic water insecurity, unaffordable services and deteriorating infrastructure – conditions that would be unacceptable elsewhere in the EU. For example, while water loss due to leaking systems averages 20% in continental Europe, it exceeds 50% in most FOTs. In Guadeloupe, it averages 60% and can reach 80%.

Key structural causes include:

•          underinvestment in infrastructure and maintenance;

•          delayed and uneven implementation of EU water directives;

•          lack of disaggregated data reflecting local realities;

•          limited inclusion of local stakeholders in EU policymaking; and

•          insufficient political prioritisation.

Addressing these issues requires systemic, urgent and tailored action. This is not just about infrastructure; it’s about equality, dignity, human rights and climate resilience across the EU.

This is why, as founder of Kimbé Rèd – French West Indies (F.W.I.), I joined the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) for a Water-Smart and Resilient Europe, launched in October 2024. Coordinated by Volonteurope and backed by organisations in 11 countries, the ECI calls on the European Commission to implement resilient water policies that inclusive of the outermost regions.

With the EU Water Strategy newly published, what do you hope it will achieve for the French Overseas Territories in practice?

The recently published EU Water Strategy is a positive step:

•          It acknowledges the infrastructure gaps and climate challenges faced by the outermost regions and highlights the need to reduce inequalities in water access.

•          It reflects several priorities raised in the ECI, in particular guaranteeing universal access to safe, affordable drinking water as a human right for all, including for those living in the outermost regions.

•          It also makes provisions for investing in climate-adapted infrastructure and providing technical support to less-developed regions with limited administrative capacity.

However, the strategy lacks specificity when it comes to the outermost regions. To ensure the strategy has real impact for FOTs, the following are essential:

•          Disaggregated data and specific targets: The strategy should include data reflecting local realities. Measurable, location-specific targets are crucial for progress and accountability.

•          Climate-adapted solutions: The outermost regions face outsized climate impacts. Solutions should prioritise contextualised interventions (e.g. mangrove restoration), advanced water filtration and targeted infrastructure investments.

•          Inclusive governance: The outermost regions must be actively involved in shaping EU water policy. Their representation in decision-making platforms like the biennial Water Resilience Forum (launching in 2025) is vital to ensure their effective and meaningful participation in the implementation and monitoring of the strategy.

•          Timelines and emergency measures: Concrete short- and medium-term timelines for action are critical. Emergency measures must be deployed to address urgent water access needs while broader plans are still being developed.

In conclusion, while the EU Water Strategy marks a positive development, for it to bridge the existing governance and infrastructure gaps it must go beyond symbolic commitments and adopt concrete, inclusive and tailored measures that address the deep-rooted water crises in the outermost regions. Their true integration – what Kimbé Rèd FWI calls ‘overseas mainstreaming’ – is essential to ensure they are not ‘left behind’ in the implementation of the EU's Water Strategy. It means embedding their needs and potential in every policy objective, action and outcome. These regions must not be treated solely as beneficiaries of EU aid, but acknowledged as essential contributors to Europe’s economic, environmental and geopolitical strength.

Sabrina Cajoly is an international human rights lawyer from the French Antilles. In 2023, she founded Kimbé Rèd – French West Indies (FWI), a civil society organisation advocating for human rights in the French Overseas Territories, through actions based on international human rights law. Key priorities include the human rights to safe drinking water and to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Previously, Ms Cajoly has served as an expert on human rights, child protection and gender on three continents with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Council of Europe.

Water scarcity, food security and sustainable energy supply are among the greatest challenges of our time. These interconnected issues are at the heart of Facing the Unknown, a multi-award-winning documentary produced by EESC member Paul Rübig. The film, directed by Dieter-Michael Grohmann, premiered recently in Brussels and has been recognised at several international festivals.

Facing the Unknown follows Luna, a young Belgian student, as she explores the growing global water crisis and its implications for Europe’s future. Through her journey, the documentary examines how water scarcity threatens not only the environment but also economic stability, food security and energy supply. Featuring insights from experts and industry leaders, the film sheds light on how water shortages affect people, businesses and communities, while exploring solutions at local, national and global levels.

The documentary is inspired by Emergency Preparedness, the book co-authored by Paul Rübig and Achim Kaspar, which outlines strategies for the smarter and fairer use of global resources. ‘In the film and book, we show how global resources can be used more intelligently and equitably. This has been a personal concern of mine for many years,’ said Mr Rübig.

Since its release, Facing the Unknown has won six international awards at film festivals in the USA and Venezuela, including Best Environmental Documentary at the Los Angeles Film and Documentary Awards.

The documentary’s message strongly aligns with the EU’s recently published Water Resilience Strategy and the EESC’s call for an EU Blue Deal. The strategy marks a significant step forward in addressing Europe’s growing water challenges, and the film provides a powerful reminder of why immediate and coordinated action is essential.

In the photo after the film premiere in Brussels, from left to right: co-producer Adam El Meziani, Paul Rübig, lead actress Luna de Mesmaeker and director Dieter-Michael Grohmann.

By Andres Barceló Delgado

While industry never planned to leave Europe, the reality is that since the 2024 European elections, EU institutions have come to a clear conclusion: without a strong industry, Europe cannot secure strategic autonomy or achieve the essential competitiveness of its economy. A strong industrial base is imperative not only for quality jobs for Europeans, but also for progress, innovation and high-value-added services.

In response to the cost-of-living crisis, the EESC has launched an initiative – an ‘umbrella opinion’ – addressing the crisis across different policy areas and offering targeted recommendations to EU and national policymakers. As part of this, the EESC’s Commission for the Study of Industrial Change (CCMI) has zeroed in on reindustrialisation as a key approach for helping to counter the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on European citizens and businesses.

Our opinion on the Reindustrialisation of Europe – opportunity for businesses, employees and citizens in the context of the cost-of-living crisis, set to be adopted at the EESC plenary in June, highlights the vital role that reindustrialisation must play in improving the situations of individuals and companies across Europe.

The main conclusions of the opinion are as follows.

While we welcome the Commission’s initiative to launch a ‘competitiveness compass’, we call for the inclusion of clear benchmarks and performance indicators to ensure that these efforts don’t just exist on paper, but are brought to life.

In the field of energy (which currently acts as a disincentive to European industry and the broader economy), we call for rapid measures, both short- and long-term, to ensure secure, stable and predictable energy at prices that allow businesses to be competitive and that do not burden households.

Strategic autonomy must be at the heart of the reindustrialisation process and must benefit not only the companies directly involved, but also the entire value chain. European industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers, which is why we call for reduced red tape and streamlined EU legislation for granting work permits. We do not want to ‘import’ cheap labour, but rather attract skilled workers who will enrich European society.

The aim of industrial policy must be to restore the EU’s attractiveness and make it once again a favourable environment for industrial investment, leveraging legal certainty, the skills of its workers and, of course, the benefits of the single market.

Social dialogue must be fully integrated into the reindustrialisation process, as it affects not only large companies, but SMEs as well, which make up the vast majority of European businesses.

There is one issue, however, that is particularly sensitive in some social and political groups: simplifying bureaucracy. In the words of the president of the EESC Employers’ Group, Stefano Mallia, ‘simplification does not mean deregulation. It is not about dismantling the Green Deal or essential social safeguards ... It is about removing bureaucracy that benefits no one.’

As always, the devil is in the details; but far from being discouraged, we must deepen the reindustrialisation process, which will involve investment across the entire chain, from public investment in infrastructure to business investment in industry, promoting high-quality jobs, encouraging lifelong professional retraining, maintaining the social standards that are at the heart of the EU acquis, and promoting business innovation as a means of continuous improvement and the development of high-value-added services.

This is no easy task, but I firmly believe that a strong industry, established throughout the EU, can be one of the main drivers for improving the competitive position of the European economy and substantially improving the situations of Europeans and their families.

How can the EU ensure that its industrial strategy brings tangible benefits for both businesses and citizens? EESC member Andres Barceló Delgado, rapporteur of the opinion on reindustralising Europe, gives the answers.

By Dimitris Dimitriadis

The fragmentation of global supply chains directly impacts businesses and households through escalating costs and growing economic uncertainty.

Fragmented supply chains directly raise costs through increased tariffs, logistical disruptions and limited access to essential raw materials and intermediate goods. These issues affect sectors crucial for daily life, including pharmaceuticals, electronics and food production. Consumers ultimately bear these additional expenses, facing reduced purchasing power and restricted access to vital products. Moreover, these disruptions disproportionately affect lower-income households, exacerbating economic inequalities and social vulnerabilities across Europe.

It is essential to diversify supply chains to enhance economic resilience and maintain open trade channels. We must forge deeper economic partnerships with diverse global partners, particularly those aligned with Europe’s commitment to sustainable and equitable trade practices. Strengthening such relationships will reduce Europe’s vulnerability to single-source dependencies and external economic shocks.

Technological innovation must be the engine and the goal of all these efforts. Investing in advanced digital solutions, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, can optimise supply chain efficiency, improve transparency and reduce operational costs. These technologies not only facilitate smoother trade operations but also bolster the competitive position of European industries globally.

Pursuing these objectives does not and must not mean renouncing sustainability. Aligning supply-chain strategies with sustainability objectives, such as supporting the circular economy and promoting local production networks, can further enhance long-term resilience and reduce environmental and social impacts.

Finally, regulatory simplification is essential. We need clear, effective rules that maintain robust protections for consumers, workers and the environment, and also enable European businesses, especially SMEs, to adapt swiftly and remain competitive amid global disruptions. 

Disruptions in international trade networks contribute to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis affecting millions across Europe. Dimitris Dimitriadis, rapporteur of the opinion Fragmentation of supply chains and impact on the cost of living, lists the efforts that should be made to repair the broken supply flow. The opinion is part of a broader package of EESC opinions that collectively address multiple facets of the cost-of-living crisis, offering comprehensive recommendations to European policymakers and civil society.

By Jean-Nicolas Beuze

From the Sahel to Syria, from Gaza to Ukraine, the European Union is encircled by crises that continue to drive mass displacement. These are not distant emergencies and protracted crises – they are Europe’s front yard. For EU policymakers, the takeaway is clear: delivering aid to find solutions for populations on the move and investing in regions facing extreme fragility risks is not just a moral duty, it is a strategic imperative. And the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) must reflect that.

No less than 26 countries affected by these crises surrounding Europe are currently under acute strain – grappling with war, economic collapse, climate shocks and other aspects of fragility. Nearly half the world’s refugees live in or near these conflict and volatile zones. Nationals from these countries now account for one-third of asylum claims in the EU – and that’s without counting the 4.3 million Ukrainian refugees already residing in the Union.

Migration pressures are growing, and Europe’s response must evolve. The projected drop in global official development assistance – from €200 billion in 2024 to under €150 billion by 2026 – is, in this respect, a short-sighted decision. While security and business competitiveness rightly receive increased budgets, underinvesting in stability and resilience beyond EU borders is a political gamble Europe cannot afford. While some argue that assisting displaced communities and their hosts is a matter of values and solidarity, it is also fundamentally about Europe’s long-term stability and prosperity.  

Managing population movements must begin long before people reach European borders. Deterrence at borders – whether through fences or legal hurdles – does not stop those fleeing bombs, persecution or desperation. If Europe wants migration that is orderly, predictable and manageable, it must engage upstream – addressing root causes such as poverty and armed violence; supporting and protecting internally displaced persons in their own country before they feel forced to cross a border; and, finding solutions for refugees in countries immediately neighbouring these hot spots.

This is not about idealism; it is about realpolitik. Aid policy should serve the Union’s geopolitical goals – reducing instability, strengthening economic and trade partnerships – and ultimately, preserving EU credibility on the global stage. Being a thought leader for which solidarity still means something, while ensuring benefits for its own people, is what sets it apart from other nations.

The EU’s swift and well-funded response to the war in Ukraine and the mass displacement it triggered – both internally and across its border – showed that the Union has learned key lessons from the 2015 Syria crisis. But the current scale, proximity and complexity of the belt of crises now unfolding around Europe demand an equally strategic and sustained response. Mounting security concerns and economic pressures make this even more urgent. EU Member States must meet the moment by equipping the Union with the necessary financial means to deliver on its ambitious but unavoidable goals. That begins with agreeing to an overall budget that exceeds the current 1% of Gross National Income (GNI), so that the EU can act decisively and sustainably in response to today’s realities. 

This is why calculated, forward-looking decisions on the next MFF are so critical. UNHCR recommends concrete measures to ensure that investment to address forcible displacement is fully aligned with EU priorities:

• Secure a minimum of €2.3 billion annually for humanitarian aid so that when crises emerge, one can immediately respond and stop the suffering.
• Ring-fence at least 10% of the next international partnerships instrument for displacement and migration to stabilise people on the move closer to their home, especially in Mediterranean countries, before people feel forced to embark on dangerous journeys across the sea.

This is not only about spending more, but about spending with foresight ­­– allocating resources in ways that reduce downstream costs of having to deal with a power vacuum, missed economic investment opportunities and increased populations on the move. 

With adequate resources, third countries that host displaced people will meet their needs – offering solutions pending a return home. External aid geared towards refugees has often been an opportunity to develop public services and to create jobs for underserved local populations in host countries. Europe’s whole-of-route approach requires investments as early as possible – in countries of origin and of transit. The goal is not just to reduce movements for the sake of it, but to find durable solutions for those on the move. This will directly serve European interests of curbing irregular – or what most refer to as illegal – arrivals at its border.  But it will also reduce the risk of people to fall prey to traffickers or embark on perilous journeys. 

An integrated, well-resourced EU approach to forced displacement is not about philanthropy, it is about making an investment for Europe’s own future. When crises go unaddressed, they do not ‘just’ create human suffering. They destabilise regions and undermine trade and other partnerships. Having people compelled to move to Europe for their own safety are foreseeable outcomes of us having neglected situations earlier on. 

At UNHCR, we have embraced the EU’s current pivot toward making aid more transactional and mobilising private capital for development through the Global Gateway initiative. We have long recognised that public finance must be used to mobilise private capital in providing sustainable responses to forced displacement. The Global Gateway can be transformative if displaced people and host communities are built into its design, not added as an afterthought.

The international system is evolving, and the housekeeping starts at home. With the Humanitarian Reset and UN80 on the horizon, we have a real opportunity to reform how aid is delivered against its promise – making it more efficient and effective at the same time. The EU is right to push for more accountability and better results. But without proper financial support, we will for sure fail on both counts.  

The choices made in the next MFF will shape the Union’s ability to manage its borders humanely, safeguard its internal cohesion and be a partner of choice for third countries. External aid must remain a strategic priority. It is the foundation for a more stable and prosperous Europe.

UNHCR’s latest recommendations for the next MFF are available here. 

An integrated, well-funded EU approach to forced displacement is not an act of philanthropy – it is an investment in Europe’s own future. With complex crises unfolding at its borders, Europe will need to come up with a bold and strategic response. As talks on the next EU budget begin, the choices made in the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) will shape the Union’s ability to manage its borders humanely, safeguard its internal cohesion and be a partner of choice for third countries, writes our surprise guest Jean-Nicolas Beuze, the UNHCR country representative to the EU.

Jean-Nicolas Beuze is the UNHCR country representative to the EU, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Portugal, having previously served as country representative in Iraq, Yemen and Canada. He has over 27 years of experience working for the UN in the field and at the headquarters in the areas of human rights, peacekeeping and child protection.

Across Europe and around the world, water is becoming a defining issue of our time. Droughts, pollution, overuse and ageing infrastructure are placing our societies under mounting pressure. Yet despite the evidence, water still does not receive the strategic attention it so urgently needs.

The European Economic and Social Committee was the first EU institution to identify this gap, and responded with a call for an EU Blue Deal. Water is not simply an environmental concern. It is a cross-cutting issue that affects the economy, public health, agriculture, energy and long-term security. If water fails, all other systems will follow.

Since the launch of the EU Blue Deal, we have seen some encouraging movement. The European Commission is now preparing a water resilience strategy, and for the first time in history, we have a Commissioner for water policy. These are steps in the right direction, but the scale of the challenge demands much more.

Across the EU, vast volumes of water are still lost every day due to leaky and outdated networks. Many Member States lack the investments needed to modernise their infrastructure, and several key economic sectors – including many industries, agriculture and the energy sector – remain unprepared for a future defined by scarcity and volatility.

This is why we are calling for a Blue Transition Fund. It would serve as a unified financing mechanism to support the full range of water-related needs, upgrading infrastructure and ensuring access to water for all, deploying new technologies, boosting innovation, reskilling workers and helping regions and industries adapt. Water resilience must be a shared European priority, backed by serious, long-term investments, starting with the next multiannual EU budget.

Effective coordination is essential. No Member State can face this alone. Water crosses borders, and so too must our policies. We need stronger collaboration between the national, regional and EU levels, informed by civil society and based on clear, common objectives. Moreover, we urge the Commission to ensure that water considerations are integrated into all EU policies in a coherent manner. This view is also shared by the European Parliament, who, echoing our EU Blue Deal recommendations, calls on the EU to mainstream the water dimension into EU internal and external policies to ensure long-term water resilience, sustainability and security.

The EESC is also contributing to global discussions on the topic. Ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, we are working to highlight the interdependence between freshwater and marine ecosystems. These must no longer be addressed in isolation. The science is clear, and our governance models must catch up. We will also contribute to the 2026 UN Water Conference, where we expect the EU to lead with its new vision for water resilience, and with the strong involvement of employers, workers and civil society to ensure the success of the strategy on the ground.

Water is the foundation of everything we value: life, stability and prosperity. To ignore it is to gamble with the future. Europe must lead, and it must lead now.

Oliver Röpke

EESC President

By the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group

The topic of the conference, held on 15 May, was the mental and physical condition of young Europeans and the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in supporting it. The event was organised in the framework of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, on the initiative of the Polish Minister for Civil Society, Adriana Porowska, and the Civil Society Organisations’ Group at the EESC.

The conference welcomed representatives of Polish and other EU Member States’ civil society organisations, as well as scientists, practitioners and other stakeholders engaged in the broad field of child and youth development.

• The event’s theme was directly aligned with the Polish Presidency’s overarching motto: security.
• The goal of the meeting was to exchange experiences and raise awareness among EU and Member State decision-makers about the potential and role of CSOs in health-related activities for children and young people, including areas such as education, prevention, physical activity and early response to threats.
• A panel addressed global issues such as environmental pollution and climate change, as well as societal challenges like childhood cancer.

“The unpredictability and volatility of new threats raise questions about society’s and administrations’ ability to protect their youngest [members] from harm and to provide them with optimal conditions for stable development”, Ms Porowska said before the event.

“We are witnessing the long-term effects of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine on our society – trauma, family separation and displacement. Many Polish families are suffering from poverty and extreme hardship. Each of these brings immense difficulties and consequences for the mental well-being of younger generations. In this context, we must also focus on digital security. Protecting children from harmful or fake content, including climate disinformation, is just as important as safeguarding their physical health”, emphasised Deputy Minister Marek Krawczyk, representing Ms Porowska at the conference.

“Health security must be a key strategic priority at European and national level. Investing in the well-being and health of children and young people, notably in their mental health, means investing in a sustainable future. Prevention, early intervention, education, social networks and community-based initiatives play a crucial role. This is why civil society organisations must be more involved in defining, evaluating and monitoring health security priorities. We all experienced the added value of their activities during the COVID-19 crisis, and the power of civil-society-driven innovations has been presented again here today,’ said Séamus Boland, President of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group at the EESC.

Read the full press release

Read the conclusions and recommendations of the event