Under the directive, EU member states must update and report their river basin management plans every six years.
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The European Commission has referred its member state Greece to the European Court of Justice for failing to comply with the bloc’s water framework and floods directives.
In a press release published on Wednesday, the Commission said that the country, a member of the European Union (EU) since 1981, failed to finalise the revision of its river basin and flood risk management plans, which all EU member states are required to review, and if necessary update, every six years.
Under the Floods Directive, implemented in 2007, member states are required to undertake preliminary flood risk assessments for each river basin district, including mapping the district, identifying the causes of past flooding in the area, and evaluating the potential consequences of future floods on human health, the environment, cultural heritage, and economic activity.
In September 2023, Greece was hit by torrential rain brought about by Storm Daniel, the deadliest Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone in recorded history. The storm unleashed devastating flooding that killed at least 17 people and resulted in billions of euros in damages. An assessment by the World Weather Attribution found that the floods, a 1-in-250-year event, were made up to 10 times more likely and 40% more intense by anthropogenic climate change.
All EU members are also required to ensure the good qualitative and quantitative status of their water bodies, including rivers and lakes, under the 2000 Water Framework Directive, which aims at reducing and removing pollution and guaranteeing adequate water levels to sustain human needs and wildlife.
According to Wednesday’s press release, the Commission had already notified Greece twice about the situation, urging the country to comply with its obligations under both directives in February 2023 and again in November 2023.
The Greek environment ministry has notified the Commission it will review its plans by early summer, Reuters reported.
Greece is just the latest country to be sued by the EU for failing to comply with their respective reporting obligations after the Commission referred seven of its member states – Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spain, Ireland, Malta, Portugal, and Slovakia – last month.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ), the highest court of the European Union, may impose a sanction, which may consist of a one-time payment if compliance is achieved before the judgement or a daily penalty to encourage the member state in question to promptly rectify the infringement following the court’s ruling.
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