Additional assistance to outermost regions

The EESC’s ECO section has adopted an opinion supporting the European Commission’s proposal to provide targeted and flexible aid to EU outermost regions (ORs), particularly Mayotte, following the devastation caused by cyclone Chido and storm Dikeledi. Highlighting the ORs’ structural vulnerabilities due to remoteness, insularity and climate exposure, the EESC backs amendments to Regulation (EU) No 228/2013 to ensure continued POSEI (Programme of Options Specifically Relating to Remoteness and Insularity) support even when production is disrupted. It calls for emergency measures to be integrated with long-term resilience, sustainability and cohesion strategies, alongside transparent monitoring and strong civil society involvement in recovery efforts.

Key points
In the opinion, ECO recommends:

• Maintaining POSEI support during post-disaster reconstruction, even in the absence of current productive activity.
• Removing the 10% ceiling on fund redeployment from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for Mayotte.
• Postponing beneficiary deadlines beyond 30 June 2025 to ensure realistic recovery timelines.
• Including nature-based solutions in reconstruction efforts to strengthen climate and environmental resilience.
• Creating a dedicated EU climate disaster fund, separate from long-term structural funds, to respond more effectively to major crises.
• Improving coordination and simplification of EU disaster response tools, including a one-stop shop and early warning mechanisms tailored to ORs.

Additional information
EESC section: Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO)
Opinion type: Referral – Commission proposal
Rapporteur: Joël DESTOM (Diversity Europe – GR III, France)
Reference: ECO/680-EESC-2025
Date of adoption by section: 5/6/2025
Date of adoption in plenary: 18-19 June 2025

Contact
Thomas Kersten
Press Officer
Tel.: +32 (0)2 546 8931
Email: thomas.kersten@eesc.europa.eu

Georgios Meleas
Policy Officer
Tel.: +32 (0)2 546 9795
Email: eco@eesc.europa.eu