ELAS proposes reforms to Greece's natural disaster relief bill

ELAS has submitted three major interventions regarding a draft bill on state and housing assistance following natural disasters. While acknowledging the positive efforts to modernize the institutional framework through digital tools and the consolidation of fragmented processes, the organization argues that the current bill does not constitute a complete recovery system.

ELAS contends that the legislation focuses too heavily on the administrative procedures for granting aid rather than ensuring substantive outcomes, such as timely, socially just, and safe recovery for affected residents and regions. A primary concern is that critical details—including the amount of aid, terms for temporary housing, and implementation deadlines—are deferred to subsequent ministerial decisions rather than being codified in the law.

The organization proposes the creation of a National Disaster Recovery System. This system would organically link initial aid, temporary housing, permanent housing recovery, infrastructure restoration, and support for local economies. Additionally, ELAS calls for an independent funding fund and the mandatory application of the ‘Build Back Better’ principle to ensure long-term resilience.