EU warns Greece over lack of water strategy

Greece faces a European Court of Justice ruling on Thursday over its failure to complete flood risk management plans required under EU water directives, highlighting the country’s struggles with water management as Europe unveils its new water resilience strategy.

The European Commission referred Greece to the court for failing to finalize river basin management plans under the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and flood risk management plans under the Floods Directive (2007/60/EC). A separate pending case concerns Greece’s non-compliance with urban wastewater treatment requirements.

The court decision comes one day after European Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall presented the EU’s water resilience strategy, aiming to ensure clean, adequate water for all while protecting aquatic ecosystems.

Under the strategy, member-states must improve water efficiency by reducing consumption at least 10% by 2030. “For Greece, the 10% target is not enough,” Roswall acknowledged in comments to Kathimerini, noting she’s well aware of the situation in Greece regarding warnings that Athens may face water shortages within two years under current hydrological conditions.

The commissioner emphasized the need for “a holistic approach” to water management, highlighting that leakage averages are 30% across Europe, reaching 60% in some countries like Bulgaria.

All of Europe faces a water crisis, Roswall noted, explaining the problem affects not only drought-threatened southern countries but also northern nations like her native Sweden. Some member-states have already set national consumption reduction targets: France (up to 10%), Italy and Ireland (10-15%).

Water restrictions vary across the EU. Southern countries prohibit pool filling, while Sweden restricts hose-watering in some areas. Spain reuses 60% of its water for irrigation and Cyprus 90%, compared to just 2.4% EU-wide.

The Commission estimates 23 billion euros in annual investments are needed to modernize water infrastructure and deploy digital solutions. The European Investment Bank is launching a 15-billion-euro loan program for 2025-2027, expected to mobilize up to 40 billion euros in total investments.

Greece has accessed EIB funding for nine water projects since 2015, with a water infrastructure investment program under evaluation for EYDAP, Athens’ water company.

Roswall emphasized that what’s missing in Greece, as in most member-states, is public awareness, hoping the water resilience strategy will spark dialogue not only with governments but also citizens.