Answer to a written question – Water scarcity in the Prefecture of Evros and the need to take measures to manage the waters of the river Evros – E-003216/2025(ASW)

1. In the context of the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS)[1] many guidance documents that include exchanges of best practices have been developed. Those related to the management of water stress, climate change, and the reuse of wastewater for the purpose of irrigation are particularly relevant.

2. Support can be gathered from several EU funding tools, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)[2], as regards improving water resilience. The Greek CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 contains support for actions which improve water resilience, such as support for switching to drought-resilient species, efficient irrigation and nature-based solutions. Other measures activated for the river basin of the Arda are included in the third River Basin Management Plans currently being assessed. The assessment will be published end of 2025. After publication the Commission will launch a structural dialogue with Greece about its implementation of the Water Framework Directive[3].

3. The Commission is aware that the Greek Bulgarian bilateral agreement for the Arda river was renewed on 2 May 2025 for a period of five years. Türkiye is not currently a party to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Water Convention: this limits the legal and institutional tools available. Yet, Türkiye would seemingly be willing to participate in trilateral transboundary water governance.

• [1] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/water-framework-directive_en.
• [2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/key-policies/common-agricultural-policy_en.
• [3] Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1-73, as amended by Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32-35.