For the first time, the Ministry of Environment and Energy is launching a public consultation<\/b> \u201cNational Water Strategy\u201d<\/b>, with the aim of establishing a modern, coherent, and holistic framework for the management of the country\u2019s water resources.<\/b><\/p>\n
As noted in its announcement, in the modern era, under the influence of climate crisis and increasing pressures on water security, the transition to a holistic approach to water resource management is emerging as a major national priority<\/b> and a prerequisite for the country\u2019s sustainable development.<\/p>\n
Specifically, according to the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the National Water Strategy is the first strategic document of national scope, which sets the priorities and outlines the country\u2019s policy guidelines for promoting the sustainable management of water and the long-term protection of available water resources<\/b>. It was drafted in accordance with Article 6A of Law 3199\/2003, in full alignment with the EU acquis, the EU Water Strategy, and the United Nations\u2019 Sustainable Development Goals.<\/b><\/p>\n
According to the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Strategy sets as its central vision the country\u2019s water security and climate resilience through rational, digitally advanced, and holistic water management,<\/b> which guarantees access to quality water for all citizens, protects aquatic ecosystems, and supports sustainable social and economic development.<\/p>\nThree Pillars<\/h3>\n
The key national commitments governing water management are organized into three pillars that embody the vision of the National Water Strategy.<\/p>\n
Pillar 1 \u2013 Water as a guarantee of life, health, and well-being.<\/b> Water is regarded as a critical national resource, a right, and a prerequisite for public health, social cohesion, and sustainable development (significantly influencing the \u201ccarrying capacity\u201d of each region). The State ensures fair and reliable access to sufficient, high-quality water. At the same time, maintaining the ecological balance of water systems is a necessary condition for the long-term availability of this resource.<\/p>\n
Pillar 2 – Climate resilience through prevention and safety.<\/b> The principle of prevention\u2014as opposed to risk response and crisis management\u2014is being embedded in planning. There is a need to strengthen the transition from fragmented interventions to a coherent framework of prevention, preparedness, and resilience against droughts and floods, under the pressures of climate change. Water-related risk management is integrated as a standard planning parameter and safety mechanism.<\/p>\n
Pillar 3 – Modern Governance<\/b>: knowledge, transparency, and implementation capacity. Effective water policy is based on reliable knowledge, transparency, and the capacity to implement guidelines and policies.<\/p>\n
It is geared toward strengthening monitoring and reliable documentation, the integration and utilization of information through digital tools, institutional coordination, and adequate administrative and scientific support. The financial sustainability of water services is viewed as a prerequisite for quality, infrastructure maintenance, and accountability to citizens, in a fair and transparent manner.<\/p>\n
Despite the existence of a mature institutional framework, significant challenges remain related to administrative fragmentation, coordination among agencies, operational response, funding and implementation of necessary projects and infrastructure, as well as oversight and control mechanisms.<\/b><\/p>\n
Particular emphasis is placed on Greece\u2019s specific characteristics, such as its unique geomorphology, the inherent seasonality of demand due to irrigation and tourism, <\/b>as well as the need to adapt to the changing conditions brought about by climate change and to effectively address water shortages and extreme flood events. At the same time, it is recognized that the protection of water resources is not only an environmental obligation, but also a matter of national strategic importance and security, requiring a long-term perspective and clear direction.<\/b><\/p>\n
To address these challenges, the objectives of the National Strategy are set out in seven strategic pillars<\/b>: ensuring the quantitative and qualitative adequacy of water resources, building a climate-resilient society, fostering cross-sectoral policy coordination, systematically investing in digital transformation and knowledge, improving governance by creating larger and stronger water service providers through consolidation and institutional safeguards, the financial sustainability of water services and social justice, as well as the active pursuit of cross-border cooperation.<\/p>\n
The policy guidelines translate these pillars into operational objectives<\/b>, focusing on policies for rational demand management and water conservation (particularly in irrigation) and the integration of water reuse and other alternative water sources into water planning<\/b>. Furthermore, priority is given to maintaining the good status of water systems and adapting sectoral policies to the carrying capacity of each region. The implementation of digitization and the use of advanced technologies and tools, ensuring the economic sustainability and cost-effectiveness of water services, transparency on the part of providers and active user participation, as well as the pursuit of cross-border cooperation, round out the framework of policy priorities.<\/p>\n
To ensure an effective transition to implementation, the development of the Program of Measures for River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) and Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs)<\/b> requires the adoption of a coherent prioritization strategy, functionally linked to their six-year implementation cycle: The selection of measures will follow the principles of rational scaling and operational feasibility, with efficiency, synergy, interconnectivity, innovation, and measurability.<\/p>\n
Finally, according to the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the key governance guidelines focus on strengthening institutional structures and enhancing administrative capacity. With the aim of safeguarding water as a strategic national resource and ensuring the effective implementation of policies, the Strategy seeks to reduce administrative fragmentation,<\/b> so that providers can meet the demand for an adequate supply of high-quality water while protecting the natural environment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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