WRITTEN QUESTION P-1814/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 June 2001)

Subject: Water shortage on the Aegean islands

The Aegean islands, particularly the Cyclades, are suffering from a severe shortage of water. According to scientific studies, the Cyclades require 12 million cubic metres of drinking water a year, only 60-65 % of which is supplied, while demand is expected to double by 2030. The problem is particularly acute during the summer owing to the complete lack of rainfall and the several-fold increase in the population through tourism. At the same time, the proliferation of deep boreholes for drawing water has resulted in dangerous salinization of the groundwater.

Given that many observers (the local press, the Institute of Geological and Mineral Research, etc.) have noted serious deficiencies in water storage projects, what are the Commission's views on those projects, which have been funded under the 1st and 2nd Community Support frameworks, and what action has it taken?

What steps have been taken to focus on the water shortage problem as a matter of priority under the 3rd CSF? What measures have been taken on which islands and what schedules have been drawn up?

The European Union is funding a management study for the development of water resources on the Aegean islands which is due for completion in the autumn of 2001. Will the findings of that study be used in the 3rd CSF, particularly to develop various methods of dealing with the water shortage (dams/reservoirs, limits and techniques for boreholes, traditional tanks for collecting rainwater on a small scale, desalination, conveyance of water, etc.)?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The Commission is aware of the importance of the problem of water for the islands of the Aegean Sea. It therefore part-financed a series of works to collect surface water under the Community support frameworks (CSFs) for 1989-1993 and 1994-1999.

The Commission was informed that some of these projects were subject to technical delays and/or problems and therefore carried out a study on 26 projects of this type (small dams and small artificial lakes or hill catchments). It sent the conclusions of this study to the regional authorities of the Southern and Northern Aegean on 12 November 1998, asking them to take the measures required to complete the projects and use the water so collected. The Commission also informed these authorities that, if some of these projects were not completed and brought into operation, it would recover the Community contribution to their construction. The Commission recently sent a reminder letter to these authorities and to the Greek national Ministry for Economic Affairs.

The Commission considers that the problem of water in Greece stems mainly from the way this resource is managed. This is why, when negotiating the current CSF (2000-06), it insisted to the Greek authorities that water management should have an important place, although, of course, the choice of projects is a matter for them.

According to the information sent to the Commission, a study has been launched on the management of water resources on the Cyclades (not all the islands). Programming for Greece of the Interreg IIC Community Initiative Drought includes provision for this and other studies. Responsibility for completion of these studies and the use made of the results is a matter for the Member State.