{"id":8761,"date":"2026-07-29T17:14:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T17:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/assedel.org\/?p=8761"},"modified":"2026-07-29T17:14:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T17:14:47","slug":"water-as-a-weapon-or-a-bridge-for-peace-an-exclusive-interview-with-mep-leoluca-orlando","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assedel.org\/fr\/water-as-a-weapon-or-a-bridge-for-peace-an-exclusive-interview-with-mep-leoluca-orlando\/","title":{"rendered":"Water as a Weapon or a Bridge for Peace? An Exclusive Interview with MEP Leoluca Orlando"},"content":{"rendered":"

As climate change accelerates and geopolitical tensions rise, water security is no longer just an environmental issue\u2014it is a matter of international relations, peace, and conflict. In an exclusive interview, our association spoke with Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Leoluca Orlando, from the Greens\/EFA group, to discuss his recent report on water governance and the European Union’s role in securing water as a fundamental human right<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A New Perspective on Water Governance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

MEP Orlando highlighted that his recommendation is an unprecedented initiative for the European Parliament<\/sup>. For the first time, the Foreign Affairs (AFET) Committee has examined water governance through the lens of international relations, moving beyond traditional discussions centered solely on agriculture or climate change<\/sup>. Orlando pointed out a startling reality: there are 150 large water basins in the world shared jointly by multiple states, yet only about 40 of these are governed by contracts and agreements<\/sup>. The rest, he notes, resemble the “Wild West,” where the law of force replaces the force of law<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water as an Instrument of War<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The control over water resources is increasingly becoming an instrument of geopolitical pressure and violence<\/sup>. Orlando explicitly cited the dramatic situations in Gaza and the West Bank, where water control is utilized as an active weapon by settlers and the Israeli army to deprive the Palestinian authorities of a vital resource<\/sup>. He also drew parallels to Russia’s destruction of water sources in Ukraine, emphasizing that modern conflict utilizes drought not as a natural phenomenon, but as a deliberate military tool<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Philosophy of Interdependence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A central theme of Orlando\u2019s approach is the concept of “interdependence”<\/sup>. He warned against the rise of sovereigntism\u2014what he termed a “hypertrophy of independence”\u2014which fuels conflicts and echoes what Pope Francis called a piecemeal third world war<\/sup>. Orlando championed the European Union, the United Nations, and the International Criminal Court as vital monuments to interdependence<\/sup>. By recognizing water as a common public good that precedes state law, he argues we can build pathways to dialogue and peace, moving toward a future where we celebrate an “Interdependence Day”<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conditionality and the EU’s Crisis of Credibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When discussing how the EU can support developing countries facing water scarcity, Orlando stressed the critical principle of conditionality<\/sup>. European financial support should be contingent on the receiving states respecting human and workers’ rights, ensuring that water remains safely and economically accessible to all<\/sup>. However, he candidly admitted that the EU is currently struggling to enforce this due to a severe loss of credibility<\/sup>. The EU’s perceived double standards, particularly regarding its relations with the Netanyahu government in Israel, have made it incredibly difficult to demand human rights compliance from other nations without facing accusations of hypocrisy<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supranational Justice for Civilian Protection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To protect civilian populations and prevent international law violations from going unpunished, Orlando called for strong supranational justice and oversight<\/sup>. Recalling his time as Mayor of Palermo\u2014a city twinned with Khan Younis in Gaza\u2014he shared how a European-funded desalination project completed in six months was delayed for over two years waiting for Israeli authorization<\/sup>. This excess of government power, he argued, proves why supranational ethical codes and justice systems are imperative to prevent water from being weaponized against vulnerable populations<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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