Immediate measures in order to deal with the effects due to the reduction of rains by 50% this year in our country announced by TIF Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The specialization of the measures was done today by the Minister of Environment and Energy Theodoros Skylakakisthe deputy ministers Niko Tagara, Alexandra Sdoukou and its representative EYDAP.

According to the Minister of Energy Theodoros Skylakakis, a new Joint Ministerial Decision on the costing and pricing of water services is expected.

The Minister of Energy referred to the creation of stronger providers by reducing their number to 1/4. Thus, among other things, EYDAP will be extended at least to the rest of Attica, Corinth, Boeotia and Phocis.

There will also be an extension of EYDATH to the rest of Thessaloniki and Halkidiki, while in the rest of the country, there will be 1 provider per regional unit. Also, a settlement will be established for 75% of the municipal water companies’ debts to PPC.

The tariffs, according to Mr. Skylakakis, are determined by the provider and controlled by the FSA and cannot, as a general rule, increase more than the Harmonized Consumer Index.

It will also be possible to specify different prices per regionor there will be a tiered charge according to consumption levels with the obligation that the first level of consumption be affordable and cover the living needs of the population.

He noted, among other things, that there is a need to address water supply and irrigation as well as flood events.

Related investments recommended by the providers is the reduction of leaks.

At the same time, the minister referred to a number of sources of funding, such as the NSRF, the revenues from emission rights and the Green Fund.

“The climate crisis itself is uncertain, and to an uncertainty we had about the weather, there is added a very large uncertainty about the climate. Another important issue is the inability of benefits to access loans,” he said, among other things, about the problems.

Mr. Skylakakis referred to the selection criteria for desalination projects in arid islands.

He said about the islands that “desalination is a solution, the question is at what cost can it be done, there if you tie it to the cost of renewable sources which is much lower than natural gas in general but also subsidies in general you can succeed for the islands of low-cost water compared to what they pay.”