MP Hüseyin Zeybek raises concerns in Greek Parliament over removal of Karasu irrigation project from funding program

The project, valued at €220 million, aims to transport and distribute irrigation water from the Karasu River to lowland villages in the İskeçe region of Western Thrace.

Addressing both the Greek Ministry of National Economy and Finance and the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Zeybek stated that the project’s removal from the funding mechanism has created serious concern among local residents and agricultural producers.

According to the parliamentary motion, the irrigation initiative is considered strategically important for supporting agricultural production, improving water resource management, and protecting the region against the growing impacts of climate change and drought conditions.

While the government reportedly described the decision as a “technical transfer of resources,” Zeybek emphasized that no concrete explanation has been provided regarding how the project will now be financed, when implementation will resume, or how completion will be guaranteed.

The Xanthi MP also warned that the decision raises broader concerns about the planning capacity and feasibility of projects included in the Development and Reconstruction Fund, particularly in regions with urgent infrastructure needs.

The proposal additionally recalled statements made by Greece’s former agriculture minister in September last year, when officials announced that the €220 million project would be completed within 36 months and would significantly strengthen both the agricultural sector and the local economy.

In his parliamentary inquiry, Zeybek requested detailed clarification from the government on several issues, including:

• The specific reasons behind the project’s removal from the fund
• The current level of physical progress and expenditures made so far
• Which financing mechanism will replace the original funding source
• Whether a binding completion timetable exists
• What measures will be taken to prevent delays or cancellation of the project

Zeybek stressed that farmers and producers in Xanthi and surrounding areas expect clear answers regarding the future of a project considered critical for the long-term sustainability of regional agriculture.