Source: European Parliament
Based on their climate risk assessments, Member States can use Cohesion Policy to support disaster risk management, notably prevention, response and resilience measures in islands or coastal areas, including measures to address coastal erosion.
In Greece, over EUR 726 million in public funding is allocated to prevent and manage climate-related flood risks, including coastal and land erosion management.
Under the shared management principle governing these Funds, the design and implementation of such projects primarily fall under the responsibility of national and regional authorities.
Greece’s Recovery and Resilience Plan[1] invests in anti-erosion and flood protection across Greece in response to the floods and wildfires in 2023[2].
The related interventions include the construction of dams, stream stabilisation structures and rainwater retention systems[3]. By end-2025, a total area of 6 200 hectares of anti-erosion works and 400 000 square meters of flood protection works is expected to be completed.
The Commission’s legislative proposal[4] establishing the Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security, provides flexibility for Member States to address regional needs, including erosion prevention, within National and Regional Partnership Plans. In the event of disasters, Member States may reprogramme funds and, where needed, access additional support through the EU Facility.
The Commission encourages integrated strategies and urges countries to ratify the Barcelona Convention’s Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean which provides a legal framework for the integrated management of coastal zones.
- [1] https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility/country-pages/greeces-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en.
- [2] (measure 16849).
- [3] W ith the aim to improve soil retention, biodiversity conservation and agricultural production.
- [4] Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security for the period 2028-2034 and amending Regulation (EU) 2023/955 and Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.