EU takes Greece to court over failure to update flood risk maps

On Thursday, the European Commission decided to refer Greece’s case to the European Court of Justice for failing to provide updated flood risk and risk maps as required by the flood directive.

Greece was the only member country EUwho did not comply with this requirement. On Thursday, the European Commission launched legal proceedings against Greece for failing to update flood risk and risk maps as required by EU law. According to the EU executive, Greece did not update its maps by March 2020, as required by the 2007 flood directive, and became the only EU member state not to comply with this requirement.

The Greek government initially said it would meet its obligations under EU law by June 2023, but announced before the summer that it would not be able to meet them until the end of the year, the commission said, citing the delay as a key reason for going to court.

The EU Executive stressed that the cards are “key tool” for flood prevention and risk management, as “they help raise awareness of areas at risk of flooding and help communities develop strategies to reduce these risks.”

In addition, they can be used by civil defense services, firefighters and first responders to “plan emergency responses” and “support insurance decisions”, as well as “plan land use and urban development, in particular to avoid the creation of new risks.” , added in Brussels.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has come under fire for his government’s response to deadly wildfires and devastating floods that hit the country over the summer. The leftist opposition in particular accused the Mitsotakis government of insufficient preparedness and failure to create an adequate structure to manage these multiple disasters and their consequences.

PS The old saying – until the thunder strikes, a man does not cross himself – is quite relevant for Greece…

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