SYRIZA MPs demand documents on Ardas River water management, citing transparency concerns
Fifteen Members of Parliament from Greece’s opposition party SYRIZA–Progressive Alliance (SYRIZA-PS) have formally requested the submission of official documents regarding the government’s management of the Ardas River, raising serious concerns about transparency, agricultural sustainability, and environmental security in the Meriç region.
The request was submitted to Parliament through an Official Request for the Submission of Documents (AKE), initiated by Theodoros Xanthopoulos, MP for Drama and SYRIZA’s spokesperson for Interior Affairs.
“Institutional Uncertainty” for Meriç Farmers
In their filing, the MPs stress that farmers in Meriç have been living for two consecutive years under prolonged and institutionally unacceptable uncertainty regarding access to Ardas River water — a resource described as indispensable for agricultural production and the economic survival of the region.
“The absence of clear guarantees regarding water availability has placed the agricultural community in a state of insecurity and de facto hostage-taking,” the document states.
Parliament Left Without Answers
According to the MPs, all previous parliamentary initiatives by SYRIZA-PS on the issue have either gone unanswered or received vague and non-committal replies, which they argue undermines parliamentary oversight and violates basic principles of transparency.
They also point to a recent statement by Deputy Minister for Environment and Energy Nikos Tsafos, who claimed that a bilateral agreement between Greece and Bulgaria on the Ardas River had been renewed, without submitting any official text to Parliament or disclosing its terms.
No information has been provided regarding:
- Guaranteed water quantities
- Monitoring and enforcement mechanisms
- Legal safeguards ensuring continued water flow
- Calls for Full Disclosure of Agreements
Given the national importance of Ardas River water management — both for local livelihoods and food security — the MPs are demanding that the government submit to Parliament:
The fully signed bilateral agreement between Greece and Bulgaria concerning the Ardas River
The complete text of the agreement between the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and Bulgaria’s state-owned energy company NEK EAD, covering regulated water supply volumes through the Ardas hydro-system
A detailed implementation timeline for these agreements
Questions Over €2.1 Million Payment
The MPs are also seeking clarification on the actual volume of water transferred from Bulgaria to Greece during the agreement period, in exchange for the €2.1 million payment made by Greece in September 2025.
Additionally, they request:
The Drought Management Plans for the Thrace Water District
The latest O.FY.PE.KA. (Greek Organization for Natural Environment and Climate Change) report assessing the hydrological status of the Ardas River and the Meriç Delta
Growing Pressure for Accountability
The renewed parliamentary action reflects growing pressure on the government to provide concrete documentation and verifiable data, as water scarcity and cross-border resource management increasingly affect agriculture, ecosystems, and regional stability in northern Greece.
The Official Request for Documents (AKE) has been formally attached to the parliamentary record.
