(AGENPARL) – Thu 05 June 2025 PRESS RELEASE No 63/25
Luxembourg, 5 June 2025
Judgment of the Court in Case C-359/24 | Commission v Greece (Updating of river basin management
plans and flood risks)
For the first time, the Court finds that Greece has failed to update the
flood risk management plans for 14 river basin districts
As part of Community action in the field of water policy, an EU directive 1 requires Member States to review and
update river basin management plans. In addition, Member States are required to send copies of the management
plans and all updates to the European Commission and to any other Member State concerned within three months
of their publication.
The EU Directive on the assessment and management of flood risk 2 requires Member States to assess the relevant
risks and prepare flood hazard maps and flood risk management plans. These flood risk management plans are to
be reviewed and updated every six years.
According to the Commission, Greece did not comply with the deadlines for reviewing and updating the
management plans for its 14 river basin districts 3 and the related flood risk management plans.
The Commission therefore brought the matter before the Court on 17 May 2024. In today’s judgment, the Court
rules against Greece because it has failed to review and update the river basin management plans within the
prescribed period. The Court finds that Greece has failed to fulfil its obligations because it has neither reviewed nor,
where necessary, updated the flood risk management plans.
NOTE: An action for failure to fulfil obligations directed against a Member State which has failed to comply with its
obligations under EU law may be brought by the Commission or by another Member State. If the Court of Justice
finds that there has been a failure to fulfil obligations, the Member State concerned must comply with the Court’s
judgment without delay. Where the Commission considers that the Member State has not complied with the
judgment, it may bring a further action seeking financial penalties. However, if measures transposing a directive
have not been notified to the Commission, the Court of Justice can, on a proposal from the Commission, impose
penalties at the stage of the initial judgment.
Unofficial document for media use, not binding on the Court of Justice.
The full text and, as the case may be, an abstract of the judgment is published on the CURIA website on the day of
delivery.
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curia.europa.eu
Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field
of water policy.
Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks.
Namely: Western Peloponnese, Northern Peloponnese, Eastern Peloponnese, Western Central Greece, Epirus, Attica, Eastern Central Greece,
Thessaly, Western Macedonia, Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, Crete and the Aegean Islands, five of those districts being international
districts.
Communications Directorate