SGI Europe at the EESC event “Call for an EU Blue Deal”

On Thursday 26 October 2023, Michele Falcone, chair of SGI Europe’s Water Task Force, addressed the High-Level event of the European Economic and Social Committee "Call for an EU Blue Deal".

In times of water scarcity, SGI Europe calls for the EU Blue Deal to limit water conflicts amongst the different users (citizens, agriculture and industries) and promote sustainable and responsible use of water, for future generations and implement the precautionary and control-at-source principles to prevent pollution.

Speaking in the panel on “Sustainable consumption of water and fostering new opportunities”, Michele Falcone highlighted that:

“It is the responsibility of services of general interest and public services to ensure access to quality water. Yet, with climate change and economic instability, this continuous service is now increasingly challenged. We call for EU policy instruments to support SGIs and, in the context of the EU reindustrialisation, give far more attention to water as a transversal priority and no longer treated in a silo.“

“There is also a great need to address the issues of skills, specifically for the “blue” jobs. Water operators and wastewater treatment plants face an increased shortage of skilled workers, which are the consequences of retirement of a part of the workforce and a lack of young, skilled workers entering the industry.”

“As an EU social partner, SGI Europe must be a vital actor. Social partners will be key to ensuring a socially acceptable climate transition for the upcoming EU legislative term. Identifying the “Blue skills” that Europe will need for the climate transition in the water sector will require the early and effective involvement of social partners.”