European Court condemns Greece over flood risk plan delays

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has officially condemned Greece for failing to update and revise its Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) and River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) within the deadlines stipulated by EU Directives 2000/60/EC and 2007/60/EC.

Despite repeated warnings and extensions, Greece failed to meet its obligations, leading to a formal condemnation — the first of its kind — which notably came on World Environment Day. The ruling highlights Greece’s prolonged delay in fulfilling basic environmental responsibilities that are crucial for flood prevention and climate adaptation.

Natural Disasters Cited, but Not Accepted
The Greek government attempted to justify the delays by citing major flood events — notably, storm Ianos in 2020 and storm Daniel in 2023. Officials argued that these events necessitated a reassessment of relevant data before plan updates could be completed.

However, the ECJ rejected this argument, pointing out that four years had already passed without compliance. As a result, Greece was condemned for failing to update FRMPs across all 14 water districts of the country.

Government Response
In response to the ruling, the Ministry of Environment and Energy issued a statement claiming that the 1st Revision of FRMPs has now been formally completed and published in the Government Gazette, ensuring compliance with Directive 2007/60/EC. The ministry also emphasized that recent natural disasters forced delays due to necessary technical revisions.

Political Reactions
Sakis Arnaoutoglou, MEP for PASOK and member of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, issued a stern response, stating:

"Greece has been condemned — not metaphorically, but literally. The government failed to update water management plans, flood risk maps, or meet even the minimum EU standards for disaster prevention."

He accused the Greek administration of political apathy and administrative negligence, warning that technical jargon hides real human suffering:

"How many more families must lose their homes? How many children must be rescued last-minute from flooded schools before we act?"

Arnaoutoglou called on the government to:

• Immediately publish the status of all 14 water districts,
• Apologize to local communities affected by flooding,
• Present a binding timeline for full compliance to the Hellenic Parliament.

"Time is up. Floods won’t wait — neither will the citizens or history."

Source: Paratiritis News