Addressing prolonged drought and improving water resource management in Greece and the EU

Subject: Addressing prolonged drought and improving water resource management in Greece and the EU

The prolonged drought that has recently been affecting Greece and other parts of Europe has severely impacted aquatic ecosystems, crops and the lives of local inhabitants. In Chalkidiki, farmers are forced to use water tankers to irrigate their olive groves and water scarcity has led to reduced yields and increased levels of water salinity. The increased demand for water because of the tourist season is exacerbating the problem, with many villages facing serious shortages.

Experts say the solution lies in maintaining, storing and reusing water. Meanwhile, the deterioration and unsuitability of existing infrastructure is leading to significant water loss. Furthermore, the climate crisis is expected to exacerbate the prolonged drought phenomenon in the future, making it necessary to put in place strategies for the management of water resources.

In light of this:

1. What measures does the Commission intend to take to support Member States in addressing prolonged drought and to strengthen the sustainable management of water resources?

2. Are there plans to fund projects that focus on maintaining, storing and reusing water, particularly in areas that are severely affected by prolonged drought?

3. How could the Commission help strengthen water infrastructure in areas that are affected by the climate crisis, with a view to reducing water loss and ensuring a sufficient supply of water?

Submitted: 5.9.2024

Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission

(16 December 2024)

To help Member States to cope with droughts and water scarcity, the EU provides co-funding for sustainable water management, water resource conservation and water infrastructures including for nature-based solutions to increase water retention for drought risk mitigation.

The EU also helps Member States to improve their drought management by bringing experts together in a Network of European Drought Observatories (1) and in the Common Implementation Strategy Working Group on Water Scarcity and Droughts. The Copernicus European Drought Observatory is helping Greece to set up a drought observatory in Athens.

Between 2021 and 2027, ca. EUR 13 billion of Cohesion Policy funds (2) will be invested in water management infrastructures. More than EUR 4 billion will be invested for the prevention of storms and droughts across the EU.

Of these funds EUR 541 million will be invested in Greece’s water infrastructures (drinking water), EUR 85 million in water management and resource conservation (3).

The Common Agricultural Policy (4) funds soil improvements on 36.5% of Greece’s agricultural area (5), more efficient irrigation and water reuse, as well as more climate resilient crops. Horizon Europe (6) supports water resilience and sustainable water management inter alia through its Missions and Partnerships (7).

1 ∙ ⸱ https://drought.emergency.copernicus.eu/

2 ∙ ⸱ https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/stories/s/21-27-Sustainable-water-management/ehce-gj6d

3 ∙ ⸱ https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/2021-2027-Categorisation/Water_2/2aig-bg4c

4 ∙ ⸱ https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy_en

5 ∙ ⸱ Greece’s Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (2023-2027) — 36.5% of the utilised agricultural area will receive support (under eco-schemes

and agri-environment climate interventions) for practices beneficial for soil management to improve soil quality and biota. 6 ∙ ⸱ https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en 7 ∙ ⸱ Of particular relevance are the partnerships ‘Water Security for the Planet (https://www.water4all-partnership.eu/), the Partnership on Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA, https://prima-med.org/) together with the Missions “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” (https://research-and- innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/restore-our-ocean- and-waters_en), Adaptation to Climate Change’ (https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open- calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/adaptation-climate-change_en) and ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (https://research-and- innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/soil-deal- europe_en#what-are-eu-missions).














| | )The announced European Water Resilience Strategy (8) will further strengthen all of these initiatives to support Europe’s water resilience for competitiveness, for food and energy security, human health and the environment.

8 ∙ ⸱ President of the Commission’s Political Guidelines 2024-2029: https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/towards-new-commission-2024-

2029_en