Take-up of appropriations for fighting forest fires

Subject: Take-up of appropriations for fighting forest fires

Following the destruction by fire of thousands of hectares of forest in Greece over the past decade, every summer the fear of new conflagrations is rekindled.

The appropriate systems for alerts (using artificial intelligence) and fire fighting (e.g. using drones) can help to identify fires early and to combat them.

However, the lack of take-up of appropriations by Greece poses a problem in fighting forest fires.

With barely 57% (January 2022) of the resources of the European structural and investment funds (ESIF) for 2014-2020 having been absorbed, an extension was granted until the end of 2023.

Under the Greek rural development programme for 2014-2022 (Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013), EAFRD1 appropriations of EUR 208.5 million were earmarked for investment in the development of forest areas and more sustainable forests. On 19 August 2022, only EUR 43 million (21%) had been spent.

Eligible ESIF expenditure (2014-2020) for Greece2 amounted to nearly 78% of the total cost. Based on official Greek figures, a take-up of around 95% under the European Regional Development Fund and 70% under the Cohesion Fund was anticipated by 2022.

1. What is the approximate current take-up rate of the above appropriations that had not been used in the previous programming period?

2. What is the take-up rate of the corresponding programmes for the current programming period, for the current year and in total?

Submitted:23.6.2023

1 Regulation (EU) 2020/852, OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13.

2 https://www.espa.gr/el/Pages/DictionaryFS.aspx?item=224

Answer given by Ms Ferreira on behalf of the European Commission

(28 July 2023)

Under the Cohesion Policy thematic and regional programmes of Greece of the period 2014‐2020, a total public funding of some EUR 325 million was earmarked for investments related to climate change adaptation measures, prevention and management of climate-related risks, including fires.

From this amount, approximately 80% has already been executed. Further expenditure to be incurred until 31 December 2023 can still be declared to the Commission until 30 June 2024 in the final accounting year, as defined in Article 2(29) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 (3).

In the latest adopted version of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2022 (4), the total EU allocation to the forestry measure (M08) is EUR 120.5 million (5), out of which 55% (EUR 66.3 million) has been committed to actions targeting the prevention and restoration of forest damages caused by fires, pathogens and floods.

Related expenditure can be declared until the end of 2025. Thus, the current overall execution rate for M08 of 38.1% (EUR 45.9 million paid) will eventually increase.

1 ∙ ⸱ Regulation (EU) 2020/852, OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13.

2 ∙ ⸱ https://www.espa.gr/el/Pages/DictionaryFS.aspx?item=224

3 ∙ ⸱ OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 320.

4 ∙ ⸱ http://www.agrotikianaptixi.gr/el/content/egkrisi-tropopoiiseis

5 ∙ ⸱ M08: European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) EUR 120.5 million, EUR 148.3 million public expenditure.

(http://www.agrotikianaptixi.gr/el/content/egkrisi-tropopoiiseis).










| | )Under the Greek Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (6), a total EU contribution of EUR 50 million (7) has been earmarked for the prevention and restoration of damages to forests caused by fires and natural disasters (8). The Managing Authority is currently preparing the relevant calls for proposals.

6 ∙ ⸱ http://www.agrotikianaptixi.gr/sites/default/files/egkekrimeno_ss_kap_2023-2027.pdf

7 ∙ ⸱ EUR 60 million total public expenditure.

8 ∙ ⸱ Interventions Π3-73-1.3.1 and Π3-73-1.3.2 of the Greek CAP strategic Plan 2023-2027.