Greece probes €500 million EU-funded smart water meter projects over alleged overspending
Greece’s anti-corruption and competition authorities are investigating allegations of large-scale overspending in EU-funded smart water meter projects, with potential irregularities estimated at up to €500 million.
The country’s National Transparency Authority is examining procurement procedures for smart water meter installations carried out by municipalities and local water utilities, while the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Hellenic Competition Commission are also conducting parallel inquiries.
The projects, financed through Greece’s EU-backed development framework, involved 55 approved contracts with an average budget of around €9 million each. Investigators are reviewing claims that the equipment was purchased at prices significantly above market value, in some cases reportedly hundreds of percent higher than comparable installations abroad.
According to allegations cited in the probe, certain contracts show unit prices ranging from €115 to €282 per meter, compared with approximately €83 in other EU markets. Complaints also point to possible coordinated bidding practices and inflated procurement costs linked to additional equipment and software packages.
Audits have already been completed in several municipalities in Central and Western Macedonia, while a broader investigation continues based on evidence provided by a whistleblower under protected status.
Authorities have not issued public comments on the case, which remains under active investigation.
Source:Kathimerini
