Urgent appeal for elimination of water scarcity and to protect water resources21 member countries, including Greece, applied to the EU.
In a joint letter, they ask the European Commission to take concrete measures to strengthen its security water and sustainability of water systems throughout the block. The letter was announced in the context of the informal meeting of EU environment ministers under the chairmanship of Hungary.
Water scarcity and flooding: The two extremes of the water crisis
The joint letter, initiated by Portugal, sounds the alarm about high levels of drought, water scarcity and flooding in all EU countries. , they are becoming more and more frequent.
In addition to Greece, the letter was signed by the following countries in alphabetical order: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia , Slovenia.
30% of Europeans face water problems
As mentioned in the letter, according to the European Environment Agency, every year approximately 20% of the regions included in the European territory and 30% of Europeans suffer from water shortages or other similar problems. The direct economic cost of water scarcity events is approximately €9 billion annually. This amount does not include damage to ecosystems. If we include these, the total cost of water shortages could reach 65 billion euros per year by the end of the century.
On the opposite side of water scarcity, the consequences of floods are as devastating as they are economically damaging. A study published by the European Commission in 2021 estimated the total cost of reducing flood risks for the period 2016-2021 at at least €14 billion.
A unified plan is required
In a letter to the Commission’s Executive Vice-President for the Environment, Maros Šefković, the 21 member states call for a unified approach to the water problem, formally formed at the “highest staff level in the EU”. As they write, this integrated plan should cover freshwater and saltwater resources, ecosystem protection, water for human consumption, agriculture and food systems, energy and industry.
As emphasized by the 21 member states, a systematic approach is necessary to ensure synergy and coherence in all legislative processes. They emphasize that in order to ensure the availability and safety of water resources, it is necessary to integrate the provisions of environmental legislation and all issues related to the proper management of water.