Commissioner Christophe Hansen, in a written answer on 19 June 2026, ruled out creating a dedicated EU funding instrument for small-scale irrigation projects in arid and island areas, instead pointing to existing Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and cohesion policy tools as sufficient. The response, addressed to MEP Galato Alexandraki (ECR, Greece), stresses that national authorities retain primary responsibility for targeting support to water-stressed regions such as the Greek islands.
The answer comes in reply to a parliamentary question submitted on 22 April 2026, in which Alexandraki pressed the Commission on whether it would establish a specific European instrument or funding stream for small-scale irrigation, water storage, reuse, and smart irrigation systems. She also asked for faster, simplified procedures for small and family farms and for prioritisation within the CAP, cohesion policy, and the Water Resilience Strategy for areas under permanent or seasonal water stress.
Hansen's response, while rejecting a new instrument, outlines several existing avenues. Under the CAP, Greece's managing authority decides conditions for accessing water-management funding. The CAP already supports practices improving soil quality on 36.5% of Greece's agricultural area, alongside more efficient irrigation, water reuse, and less water-intensive crops. The 2025 and 2026 simplification packages have reduced administrative burdens for farmers, though day-to-day management remains with national authorities. For future funding, the Commission's proposals for post-2027 National and Regional Partnership Plans and the CAP post-2027 require Member States to continue supporting water resilience and climate adaptation, with Member States in charge of targeting support to the most affected areas.
the Commission sees its role as setting broad frameworks and simplifying rules, while leaving implementation and prioritisation to Member States. This approach balances EU-level coordination with national flexibility, but may disappoint stakeholders seeking more direct EU intervention. Greek small-scale farmers and island communities, who face acute water stress, will continue to rely on national authorities to channel CAP and cohesion funds effectively. Environmental NGOs may argue that without a dedicated instrument, funding for small-scale projects remains uncertain. Conversely, EU and national budget authorities benefit from avoiding a new layer of bureaucracy. The Commission's emphasis on existing tools and national discretion suggests no major shift in water-resilience funding is imminent, though the post-2027 CAP and cohesion proposals will be key to watch.