Greek MEP Tsiodras urges EU Commission to tackle island water scarcity

European Parliament member Dimitris Tsiodras has asked the European Commission to outline concrete actions to secure water supplies on EU islands threatened by climate‑driven drought. He requested measures to modernise infrastructure, curb leaks, fund research and develop new desalination technologies, and asked whether the Commission will create special financing tools to cover the estimated €23 billion annual investment gap for water‑management projects.

Tsiodras noted that, while the Commission’s water‑resilience strategy calls for reduced leaks and improved storage, “beyond the commitment to support innovation in sustainable desalination, the Commission does not propose specific measures for island regions.” He stressed that water scarcity hampers both residents’ well‑being and economic development of the islands.