SYRIZA MPs question Government over water management in Meriç: “Government inaction costs Greeks dearly and drives farmers to despair”
SYRIZA MPs, led by Theofilos Xanthopoulos, MP for Drama and Shadow Minister of the Interior, have submitted a parliamentary question regarding serious water management problems in Meriç and what they describe as government inaction that harms local farmers.
Key Concerns Raised
Drought and Flood Risks: Farmers in Evros face collapsing crops due to drought, while the region remains vulnerable to floods following the devastating 2023 wildfires.
Lack of Implementation: Despite government announcements, River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) and Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) remain largely unimplemented, leaving Meriç without a strategy to secure water resources or prevent future crises.
Cross-Border Agreements:
The Greek–Bulgarian agreement on the Ardas River water supply remains inactive, with no updates since May.
No bilateral agreements exist for the Meriç and Erythropotamos Rivers.
Intensive use of the Evros River by Turkish rice farmers deprives Greek agriculture of sufficient water.
Criticism of Government Action
On August 29, Parliament approved an emergency payment of €2.1 million for 1.5 months of water supply from Bulgaria—an action SYRIZA MPs call a sign of inadequacy and mismanagement.
They argue taxpayers are paying heavily for years of government inaction, while the real cost is the abandonment of the region.
Questions to Ministers
The MPs are asking the government to clarify:
Whether Evros will be declared in a state of emergency so that farmers can access compensation.
When the Greek–Bulgarian water agreement will become binding and public.
What exact “sufficient water quantities” Greece has agreed to receive.
What measures will support Evros’ agricultural production.
The current stage of the Feres–Peplos irrigation project, announced last year.
How many cubic meters of water have been agreed for the €2.1 million cost.
Which diplomatic initiatives Greece is pursuing to secure water supplies after the operation of the Edirne dam in Turkey.
Finally, they demand the government submit to Parliament the signed agreement between the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and the Bulgarian company NEK EAD on Ardas River waters, along with all supporting documents.
