MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Water infrastructure left inoperative due to delays in land consolidation and irrigation projects – E-001355/2025

Question for written answer  E-001355/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Sakis Arnaoutoglou (S&D)

In the Greek regions of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (Rhodope) and Thessaly (Elassona) there are serious delays in the employment of integrated or fully developed water infrastructure. The absence of irrigation networks and land consolidation and the lack of administrative readiness results in the inertia of investments with a significant impact on development and the environment.

In the municipality of Rhodope, although work on the Iasio dam has been completed, it remains inoperative as the necessary irrigation network has not been built. Land consolidation in critical areas (Arriana, Likio, Evrinos) has been delayed by more than a decade, preventing water resources from being turned to account and rural development plans from leaving the drawing board. In the municipality of Elassona, the Agioneri dam project has been abandoned, despite comprehensive and approved studies existing since the 90s. The delay in completing/implementing such projects has a number of consequences: reduced agricultural productivity, loss of water resources and increased precariousness in the face of climate change.

In light of the above, can the Commission answer the following:

• 1.How does it monitor the progress and implementation of land improvement projects included in the CAP strategic plans for 2023-2027, especially in regions with delays and administrative difficulties?
• 2.Is it possible to provide technical assistance to Greece (through JASPERS, EIB Advisory) to boost administrative readiness and speed up the preparation of projects such as the Iasio dam and land consolidation in Rhodope and Thessaly?
• 3.Is it possible to enable flexibility or a targeted call under the Greek CAP strategic plan or other financial tools (RRF, Cohesion Fund), in order to integrate critical irrigation network and land consolidation infrastructure that remains inoperative, even though it is already partially completed?

Submitted: 2.4.2025