Considering that the Outermost Regions are an essential part of the EU, whose special situation is recognised in Article 349 of the TFEU; Recognising that, due to their remoteness and insularity, the Outermost Regions face unique challenges that impact their economic and social development as well as their integration into the European project; and that these challenges have been further exacerbated by the energy and transport price crisis triggered by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, whilst these regions also remain particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change; Recognising the need for the EU to establish a dedicated framework that allows the Outermost Regions to overcome these challenges and fully participate in the European project; Observing the sharp increase in the arrival of illegal immigrants to these regions, which has reached record levels in recent years; and taking note of the disproportionate impact of this phenomenon on the Outermost Regions, due to their limited reception capacities and the absence of effective mechanisms for a fair redistribution of migrants across the Union; Taking note of the regulations on transport and environmental emissions and their potential harmful impact on the connectivity of the Outermost Regions; and recognising the crucial role of strong connectivity between the Outermost Regions and the mainland for their economic development and territorial cohesion; Acknowledging that agriculture and fishing play a fundamental role in ensuring the supply of goods to the Outermost Regions whilst preserving traditional activities and ways of life, sustaining rural populations, and providing a livelihood that strengthens local communities; The European People´s Party: Upholds the need to maintain Cohesion Funds and ensures that their implementation continues to be managed by the competent local authorities, as this is essential to guarantee that the specific needs of each region are duly considered in the use of these funds; Emphasises the importance of agricultural activity in these regions and the need to maintain and expand funding for specific support programs in the next Multiannual Financial Framework: highlighting in particular, the necessity of updating the POSEI program — which has remained unchanged for 13 years — to account for the impact of inflation and the economic consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine; Maintains that bureaucratic burdens for accessing and utilising these funds must be simplified to ensure that those who need them can do so as efficiently as possible, maximising the benefits for the population of each region; Expresses deep concern over the migration crisis and its socioeconomic consequences in these regions; and stresses the need for a solidarity-based approach from the rest of the Union to ensure that the burden is not disproportionately placed on arrival regions and that these regions have the necessary resources to address such crises effectively; Considers that regulations on both air and maritime transport emissions must take into account the specific situation of these regions, where connectivity is essential for prosperity and a fundamental link to Europe; and that therefore, these regulations should be adapted in their revision to prevent or mitigate any potential harm they may cause; Points out that these regions are isolated energy systems which cannot be connected to the mainland, and calls on the European institutions to promote the energy autonomy of these regions.