New left submits parliamentary inquiry on Greece-Bulgaria Arda River Agreement
Seven Members of Parliament from the New Left (Νέα Αριστερά) party have submitted a parliamentary inquiry regarding the delayed negotiations for the Greece-Bulgaria interstate agreement on the Arda River.
The inquiry was initiated by Hüseyin Zeybek, MP for Xanthi and the New Left’s Agricultural Policy Coordinator, and co-signed by Alexis Haritsis, the leader of the party's parliamentary group.
186 Million Cubic Meters of Water at Risk
The MPs highlighted that the expiration of the 1964 agreement has caused great concern among farmers in the Evros region, as it directly affects the allocation of 186 million cubic meters of water, which is essential for irrigating hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland.
However, the delay in negotiations has created uncertainty about water availability, posing a serious threat to agricultural production in the area.
They also criticized the government for failing to advance irrigation infrastructure projects, specifically mentioning the stalled construction of the Megalo Derio, Mantheia, and Asproneri dams.
Questions Submitted to the Greek Government
1️⃣ What are the reasons for the delay in finalizing the negotiations?
2️⃣ At what stage are the negotiations with Bulgaria, and at what level are they being conducted?
3️⃣ What is the government’s plan in the event of further delays or failure to renew the agreement?
4️⃣ Why have the irrigation projects in Evros not progressed, and what is the timeline for their completion?
5️⃣ Can the Greek government guarantee that farmers will have sufficient water supply to avoid uncertainty before the new cultivation season?
The MPs of New Left stressed that the ongoing uncertainty is disrupting farmers' planning for the upcoming season and urged the government to take immediate and concrete action.
