Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, in a written answer on 14 July 2026, declined to confirm whether the unfinished Seta-Manikia dam in Evia will be financed under the Greek Decarbonisation Fund, citing an ongoing assessment by the European Investment Bank. The answer leaves the project's fate uncertain for the drought-stricken municipalities of Kymi-Aliveri and Eretria, which have faced severe drinking water shortages since construction stalled in 2005.
The answer responds to a parliamentary question from S&D MEP Yannis Maniatis, who had asked whether Greece had included the dam in the Decarbonisation Fund and, if not, what alternative EU funds could be used. Hoekstra stated that the Fund, which provides up to 25 million CO₂ allowances under the EU ETS for island decarbonisation, is still under EIB review, and that project details will be made public only after confirmation. He offered no timeline for the decision.
On alternative financing, Hoekstra pointed to the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which has already supported the Amfilochia pumped-storage hydropower plant in western Greece with around €250 million, and to Cohesion Policy funds, which have allocated approximately €2.1 billion for water infrastructure in Greece for 2021-2027. However, he stressed that under shared management, project selection rests with Greek authorities, not the Commission.
The answer is largely procedural, offering no concrete commitment or timeline for the dam's completion. It signals that the Commission will not intervene directly, leaving the decision to Greece and the EIB assessment. Institutional follow-up is limited: stakeholders must await the EIB's verdict and subsequent Greek government action. The answer provides no new funding or expedited process, potentially disappointing local communities and regional authorities seeking urgent relief.