Sakis Arnaoutoglou, a Greek MEP from the Socialists and Democrats group, has asked the European Commission to account for the inefficient use of European funds for weather radars and early warning systems in Greece, warning that the country is entering another summer season without a reliable network, leaving citizens, farmers, and civil protection services exposed to extreme weather. The written question, submitted on 1 July 2026, targets the gap between repeated announcements of EU-funded projects and the lack of operational systems on the ground.
detailed data on EU funding committed, contracted, and paid since 2019; verification that co-financed systems have been delivered, installed, and are operational with measurable reliability indicators; and technical and institutional assistance from the Commission to speed up full operationalisation, with a clear timeline and transparent public information. The MEP references projects funded by the Recovery Fund, the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), and the 'Civil Protection 2021-2027' programme, which were meant to replace obsolete radars and expand the national network.
The question reflects a broader concern about the effectiveness of EU resilience spending in Greece, where repeated announcements have not translated into functional infrastructure. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it has oversight of the projects' implementation and what pressure it can exert on Greek authorities to deliver operational systems. The outcome matters for Greek taxpayers and EU budget credibility, as well as for farmers, local communities, and tourists who rely on timely warnings to protect life and property from storms and flooding.