A two -way meeting to address the water water problem and the adoption of a national water management plan was held under the chairmanship of Vice President Kostis Hatzidakis.

The meeting presented the data from the latest (2024) study by the World Resources Institute (attached the relevant chart) according to which:

– Greece ranks 19th in the world in terms of the risk of water scarcity.

– Similar challenges are addressed by all Mediterranean countries as the problem is intensified by climate change which negatively affects both supply and water demand.

It has also been indicated that despite interventions in recent years (construction of new dams, drilling, etc.), the problem insists both in Greece as in all Mediterranean countries.

At the meeting, based on the presentation of additional elements by EYDAP, PPC and RAAE (Waste Regulatory Authority, Energy and Water), the need for holistic water resources management, in the short term, in the medium term and in the long run, has emerged. There was also the need to implement interventions at the organizational level to ensure the timely carrying out the large and small projects needed to tackle the problem, based on optimal European practices.

All participants emphasized that the interventions would move in the context of the provisions of the Constitution and the decisions of the Council of State that guarantee water as a public good. More meetings will be followed by the chairmanship of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the further maturation and final formulation of the National Plan for Water. The government’s intention is to finalize the national water plan, which will be a large structural intersection, to take place in the coming months.

Government Vice President Kostis Hatzidakis also said: “Climate change is here and in relation to water adequacy. The whole Mediterranean is increasingly threatened by this problem. Any inactivity would be a huge problem for the economy, tourism, agriculture, quality of life, for the country itself. It is clear that next to the initiatives adopted in recent years, others must be adopted that respond to the problem in time, addressing any organizational problems, promoting the necessary investment and utilizing new technologies. The water was and will remain a public good. The state itself had, has and will have and will have our constitution as the main mission to safeguard this public good. But for this to happen, the reality itself requires additional studied, rapid and efficient interventions, which the government is determined to proceed. The next few months will be very critical in adopting all the necessary initiatives. “

The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Interior Theodoros Lebanios, Infrastructure and Transport (Distance) Christos Dimas, Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou, Rural Development and Food Costas Tsiaras, Shipping and Island Policy Secretaries of Natural Environment and Water (RIS) Petros Varelidis, Manolis Grafakos Waste Management Coordination (RIS), EU Resources and Infrastructure (YPAT) Dimitris Papayannidis, Aegean and Island Policy Manolis Koulakis and Manolis Also participated by RAAEE Vice President of Water Dimitris Psychogios, PPC, President and CEO George Stassis and Deputy Chief Executive Officer Alexis Paizis, EYDAP President George Stergiou and Managing Director.