A Commission Staff Working Document published on 23 July 2026 evaluates Greece's implementation of the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) for the 2020-2023 reporting period, identifying compliance gaps and recommending stricter measures to protect waters from agricultural nitrate pollution. The document finds that 10.5% of groundwater monitoring points exceed the 50 mg/l nitrate threshold, with hotspots in Attica, Central Greece, and Peloponnese, while 27.2% of surface water points are eutrophic or at risk, particularly in Attica and Western Macedonia. Notably, 23.7% of groundwater hotspots and 60.1% of eutrophication hotspots lie outside designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs), suggesting inadequate zone coverage.
The document notes that NVZ designation has remained unchanged since 2014, covering 43% of Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA). Greece modified its Code of Good Agricultural Practice in 2021, making it compulsory for farmers in NVZs. A new national action programme implemented from 2020 introduced shortened closed periods for fertiliser application, enhanced manure storage requirements, a ban on manure application on bare soil, and buffer zones along surface waters. Compliance checks under CAP conditionality inspected 2.1% of farmers (2020-2022), with 6.5% non-compliance found. However, Greece failed to report trends in nitrate concentrations and nutrient balances, limiting the ability to assess water quality evolution.
The document recommends reviewing NVZ designations to cover all areas contributing to pollution, improving data on nutrient balances and trends, and ensuring coherence with the Water Framework Directive. These recommendations imply a need for stricter measures, enhanced monitoring, and cross-sector cooperation. The assessment impacts Greek farmers, who may face additional regulatory requirements, and national authorities, which must strengthen enforcement and reporting. EU water quality objectives and downstream Member States could benefit from reduced transboundary pollution, while the agricultural sector may face increased compliance costs. The Commission is expected to follow up with formal recommendations or infringement procedures if gaps persist.