General overview of the situation in Rural Areas in the MS

Greece

Despite in recent decline in terms of value of production, the agricultural sector in Greece remains one important sector of the economy and is also a factor for maintaining social and economic cohesion in many regions of the country. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the contribution of the primary sector to Gross Value Added in the period 1995-2005 was greatly reduced from 9.9% in 1995 to 5.2% in 2005.

The average size of farms is 4.8 ha. Important characteristic of farms is that most of them consist of small separated units (average size of unit 0.7 ha) at great distance from one another. 76% of farms are part of the size category (0-5) ha, while only 0.5% are part of the size category (>50) ha. Mountainous areas make up for a large part of the mainland and islands of the country – in these areas, agriculture is the main sector of economic activity. Less Favoured Areas amount to 82.7% of agricultural land.

The main pressures on water reported in the SWOT include: degradation of groundwater aquifers due to nitrates from agriculture, water pollution from urban and industrial effluents, and salt intrusion into groundwater. Other key problems mentioned are lack of balance in the distribution of water resources across the country, many water-scarce islands and deficits in terms of sound water resources management. It is mentioned that the interventions through the RDP 2007-2013 will be compatible with the water balance and the overall content of the river basin management plants, to be prepared by 2009 for implementing the WFD. No mention is made of hydromorphological pressures to water bodies. There is also no explicit statement on the risk of further intensification of agriculture.

Organic farming is practised on 54342 ha (1.5% of agricultural land). The perspectives for the further development of organic farming are characterised as positive, provided that special emphasis is given on further consumer awareness.

There seem to be no specific Leader projects planned that address water or WFD issues explicitly, at least as described in the Axis 4 measures (codes 41, 421, 43). It should be noted nevertheless that the Leader approach is implemented in Axis I and Axis III of the RDP, thus it could indirectly link to water-related activities supported under these Axes.

The largest share of RDP funding is dedicated to Axis I (43.11%) followed by Axis II (34.97%). Both axis I and axis II include measures related to water in a direct or indirect way. There are no significant measures under axis III (13.78% of total budget) having a positive impact on water resources. As concerns axis 4 (6.06% of total budget), there are no specific Leader projects planned that address water or WFD issues explicitly. However, the Leader approach could indirectly link to water-related activities supported under other Axes.

The RDP makes reference to common impact indicators to be used. No clear reference is made to the CMFS proposed by the EU. In the case of water quality improvement, these include:

o Changes in the nutrient balance of water: nutrient excess (target value: 12 kg/ha), phosphate excess (target value: 4 kg/ha)

o Pollution with nitrates and pesticides (measurement unit: mg/l; target value: not possible to be estimated yet)

Concerning the planned RDP review, a full evaluation of measures and programmes will take place in 2010 (intermediate evaluation) and in 2015 (ex post evaluation). The reports of these evaluations will indicate the degree to which measures and the RDP achieve the objectives defined in Community and national strategies. No specific reference to the WFD is made in the review.

Main strengths and weakness of the RD program as regards to water

The RDP emphasises that the promotion of sustainable (quantitative) water use is one of its key aims to be achieved through land reclamation works for irrigation water saving (Axis 1) and through applying agricultural practices that aim at reduced water use (Axis 2). Under axis 2, there are several measures that aim to contribute to improved water quality (reduction of fertilizer and pesticide use and actions in nitrate sensitive areas). Thus, the RDP 2007-2013 water-related measures in Greece refer to both water quality and water quantity issues. Hydromorphological pressures to water bodies are neither pointed out as part of the water problems of the country nor are they addressed on the measure level.

Concerning the link of RDP measures to the WFD, specific measures do not refer to the environmental objectives of the WFD and/or the water bodies at risk of not meeting the good status (due to agricultural pressures). An exception is measure 125 (infrastructure investments), where it is mentioned that works planned under this measure should be compliant with new EU water policies under the WFD. However, the general setting of environmental problems in Greece as well as the introductory text to axis 2 measures make reference to the WFD and individual steps of its implementation (including the Article 5 characterisation of basins and pressures/impact assessment). Thus, reference to the WFD is established but no specific methodology is developed on how to deal with WFD issues throughout the RDP.

Conclusions and options for further improvements of the RD as regards to water

The main environmental problems of the Greek RDP 2007-2013 explicitly refer to water resource problems (quality, quantity) as well as national activities under way to implement the WFD. It is mentioned that the interventions through the RDP 2007-2013 will be compatible with the water balance and the overall content of the river basin management plants, to be prepared by 2009 for implementing the WFD.

Water issues are tackled by several RDP measures for quality and quantity aspects (including flood protection). There is lack of reference to issues of hydromorphological quality of water bodies (e.g. related to dams/reservoirs), which could be an issue of improvement for future revisions.