Greece has a deficit of €2.3 billion in funds annually, aimed at environmental actions and projects to cover its overall needs, according to the 2025 European Commission Environmental Implementation Review (EIR).
Based on the latest EC review, a reporting tool designed to improve the implementation of EU environmental laws and policies at the Member State level, Greece requires €1.4 billion for the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems, €349 million for the prevention and control of pollution, and €379 million for the cyclical economy (a system prioritizing resource recirculation) and waste, and a further €212 million for water management.
Greece requires a total of €5.3 billion annually for investments in basic environmental sectors, but falls short of the goal by €2.3 billion, only managing to muster €3 billion.
This deficit is equivalent to 1.12% of Greece’s GDP, compared to the EU average of 0.77%, revealing funding weaknesses and institutional shortcomings.
Since 2014, Greece has paid over €184 million in fines for violating relevant EU regulations for waste and urban sewage. Notably, 80% of urban sewage ends up in waste landfills and illegal rubbish dumps, bypassing recycling processes.
The European Commission has identified “systemic weaknesses” in Greece’s environmental governance, citing persistent non-compliance with EU Court of Justice rulings and lagging conservation efforts in key protected areas.
Among the Commission’s top concerns is Greece’s failure to implement conservation measures and management plans for many Natura 2000 protected sites. The lack of action prompted Brussels to launch a new infringement procedure against the country earlier this year.
The report also highlights unsustainable water use, pointing to Greece’s alarmingly high seasonal water exploitation index—33.6% in the third quarter of 2022—well above the EU’s 20% threshold that signals water stress. The situation is even more critical at the level of individual river basins, where localized pressure is often more severe than national averages suggest.
Nevertheless, the quality of drinking and bathing water in Greece remains high, with 95.8% meeting the EU’s most stringent standards. However, questions remain over groundwater nitrate pollution due to a lack of updated data, which is expected later this year.
The Commission notes limited progress by EU member states—including Greece—in transitioning to a circular economy. Air pollution remains a major public health issue across the EU, despite some improvements. The Commission has launched multiple infringement procedures for repeated breaches of air quality limits, particularly regarding particulate matter (PM) in 13 member states, including Greece, and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in nine, also including Greece.
While Greece has made progress in urban wastewater treatment, the report points to ongoing delays in key infrastructure projects, particularly in Eastern Attica.
The Commission also stresses the strategic value of Greece’s natural environment for the national economy, especially through tourism. It warns that underinvestment not only contributes to environmental degradation but also threatens long-term economic growth.
Preserving the country’s natural heritage, the report concludes, is essential to maintaining the competitiveness of Greece’s tourism sector.
