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2026-07-26 23:16 UTC → 2026-07-27 21:02 UTC ·
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EU‑funded water infrastructure rollout in Greece pushes €3.4bn water reform & new regulator
June‑July 2026 saw a series The rollout of EU‑co‑financed water projects across Greece, including upgrades to supply networks in Therma, monastery restorations on Mount Athos, a gymnastics centre in Alexandroupoli and a suite of drought‑relief schemes in Thessaly, Central Greece and Eastern Macedonia totalling over €66 million. A July 15 programme for 1,443 SMEs in Central Macedonia mobilised €140.4 million of EU funds, while a continued through late July 19 contract package created a €142 million water‑infrastructure programme for 103 projects 2026, culminating in 63 municipalities, adding new networks, irrigation, desalination and modernising existing assets. By July 20 the Peloponnese monitoring committee confirmed progress on water‑access expansion and approved further funding calls. On 26 July the Greek government unveiled government’s unveiling of a four‑year national water policy allocating on 26 July. The plan earmarks €3.4 billion to for 901 drinking‑water and wastewater projects in across more than 170 municipalities. municipalities, extending the earlier €66 million of EU‑funded upgrades in Therma, Mount Athos, Alexandroupoli and drought‑relief schemes in Thessaly, Central Greece and Eastern Macedonia. The plan is built around reform rests on four pillars: financial strengthening municipal financing and technical support for municipalities, capacity; drafting a unified National Water Strategy co‑drafted with local authorities and scientific experts, aggregation of forces to achieve economies scientists; consolidating the sector by expanding the mandates of scale, the publicly‑controlled utilities EYDAP and EYATH; and leveraging EU expertise and funding tools. Institutional reforms include the creation of the Water Supply and Sewerage A new Regulatory Authority (RAAE) and the first National Operational Plan for drinking water, drafted in 2022 and slated for revision in March 2027. Updated river‑basin Waste, Energy and flood‑risk management plans are scheduled for 2024‑2025, Water (RAAEY) will oversee providers, enforce cost‑recovery and pricing rules, and, from 1 January 2025 2025, require all water service providers must prepare master‑plans covering new supply operators to submit master plans detailing future sources and investment needs. The policy aims legislation also introduces transparent tariff structures to boost protect vulnerable households and targets a reduction of water losses that in some areas reach 50‑60 %. These measures aim to improve resilience to drought and climate change, consolidate replace fragmented water management, management with a coordinated system, and guarantee safe ensure safe, reliable water for Greek citizens, with EU expertise and financing and technical support underpinning the reforms. However, Opposition from the Union of Municipal Water Enterprises (EDEYEA) and the Local Government Confederation (KEDΕ) have objected continues over proposals to draft legislation that would force mergers of merge municipal utilities with publicly listed operators EYDAP and EYATH.