MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Direct funding to address drought on the islands – E-001890/2025(ASW)

Between 2021 and 2027, Cohesion Policy funds[1] invest EUR 541 million in Greece’s water infrastructures, and EUR 85 million in water management and resource conservation[2].

T he Common Agricultural Policy[3] funds moreover financially support soil improvements[4], more efficient irrigation, water reuse and climate resilient crops.

There are a number of funds, under shared management, that Greece is currently using to finance sustainable water management. The Commission recently proposed an exceptional package of measures to encourage investments in water resilience.

The next Multiannual Financial Framework will also be an opportunity to further support water resilience through investment and reforms[5].

EU support for desalination requires that environmental degradation risks related to preserving water quality and avoiding water stress are identified and addressed in line with the relevant legislation[6].

In the case of Greece, the Environment and Climate Change[7] programme supports desalination units — powered by renewable energy — on small islands facing water scarcity, where no viable alternative solutions exist.

• [1] https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/stories/s/21-27-Sustainable-water-management/ehce-gj6d.
• [2] https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/2021-2027-Categorisation/Water_2/2aig-bg4c.
• [3] https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy_en.
• [4] 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.
• [5] Commission Communication on a European Water Resilience Strategy, 4 June 2025, COM(2025) 280 final, on page 14, available at https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/european-water-resilience-strategy_en.
• [6] Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2485, OJ 21 November 2023: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R2485 (Section 5.13).
• [7] https://peka-program.gr/.