EU technical support aims to tackle cross-border waste pollution in the Nestos River

The municipality of Kato Nevrokopi in northern Greece has been selected to receive specialized technical assistance from the European Commission to address the long-standing cross-border waste pollution affecting the Nestos River, which flows from Bulgaria into Greek territory.

The support will be provided through the European Commission’s “C4T – Cities and Regions for Tomorrow” mechanism, operated under DG REGIO. Out of 50 applications submitted across Europe, Kato Nevrokopi was selected as one of the municipalities that will benefit from the EU’s most advanced technical assistance program for regional challenges.

A Complex Cross-Border Environmental Challenge

The initiative focuses on the environmental problem of waste transported downstream through the Nestos River from Bulgaria and deposited in the agricultural lands of the Nevrokopi basin. Local authorities say the issue combines environmental, hydrological, and institutional challenges that require coordinated international action.

“The selection by the C4T mechanism shows that Europe recognizes the seriousness of the issue,” said Mayor Lefteris Tambouridis of Kato Nevrokopi. According to the mayor, the problem is “cross-border, environmental, hydrological, and institutionally complex.”

Nature-Based Solutions Under Development

With the support of international experts, the municipality and the Network of Cities with Lakes will develop a Nature-Based Solution (NBS) designed to reduce or contain waste carried by the river.

The proposed solution is expected to:

• Reduce the environmental impact of cross-border waste flows
• Comply fully with European and international legal frameworks
• Become eligible for EU funding programs
• Strengthen cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria
• Regional Cooperation at the Core

Andreas Stergiou, president of the Network of Cities with Lakes and mayor of Argithea, emphasized that the project aims to transform a difficult cross-border challenge into an opportunity.

“We want to turn a complex environmental problem into a European opportunity for cooperation, innovation, and sustainable solutions. The C4T technical support is the first and most critical step,” Stergiou said.

The initiative is expected to benefit not only Kato Nevrokopi but also the broader Nestos region and the wider administrative area of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

Preparing the Ground for Future EU Funding

Project coordination will be led by municipal secretary Giorgos Mourouzidis, who will work together with the scientific team of the Network of Cities with Lakes.

“Our goal is to establish a common position among Greek municipalities, build a climate of cooperation with Bulgarian municipalities, and prepare the ground for future project funding,” Mourouzidis stated.