After more than half a century of debate, Greece is once again considering reviving one of its most controversial infrastructure projects — the diversion of the Acheloos River. It’s a project that’s sparked environmental outcry, political drama, and legal battles that have spanned generations. And now, with recent natural disasters shaking the country, the project is back on the table. EEB member Christina Kontaxi reports.
What’s the Acheloos Project all about?
At its core, the Acheloos River Diversion Project is about water — moving it from one part of the country to another. The idea is to partially divert water from the Acheloos River in western Greece across the Pindos mountain range to the Thessaly plain in the east. The goals? To support irrigation in the drought-prone Thessaly plain, generate hydroelectric power, and provide water to nearby towns.
Plans for the project have been floating around since the 1950s. Over the decades, work has started and stopped multiple times, often because of environmental concerns and court rulings. The engineering side of the plan includes an 18.5-kilometer tunnel, massive dams, reservoirs, and other large-scale infrastructure to transport millions of cubic meters of water.
Why Thessaly needs water — And why it’s complicated
Thessaly is one of Greece’s key agricultural regions. But over the years, poor water management has drained both surface and underground water sources. The land has dried up, and the region’s farmers have struggled. So it’s no surprise that locals have long supported the idea of bringing in fresh water from the Acheloos to help restore their fields.
But here’s the catch: while the water needs are real, so are the environmental and legal concerns. Critics argue the diversion would harm the Acheloos ecosystem, displace communities, and violate EU environmental laws. The project has been repeatedly challenged in Greek and European courts, with multiple rulings against it.
Europe weighs in
The European Union’s Water Framework Directive (WFD), adopted in 2000, set clear goals for protecting water across member states. Greece, however, was slow to implement it — a delay that set the country back a decade in its planning. In late 2023, the European Commission even issued a formal warning to Greece for failing to keep up with its Water Management Plans and Flood Risk Strategies.
Despite this, the Greek government has included the Acheloos project once again in its current Water Management Plans. Many see this as a step backward — choosing a controversial project instead of implementing previously agreed-upon sustainable measures.
Critics argue that the Greek government keeps bouncing between policies and agencies, creating confusion and undermining long-term water protection goals. From setting up new water authorities to constantly shifting responsibilities between ministries, the overall approach seems reactive and politicized rather than grounded in science and planning.
A history of controversy and headlines
The Acheloos project has captured international attention for decades. In 2000, The Guardian questioned the logic behind building dams on the river. In 2014, Le Monde described it as an “ecological fiasco.” Environmental groups like the European Environmental Bureau and BirdLife Europe have long listed it as a symbol of poor environmental governance. And European assessments have repeatedly flagged it as a plan that’s been talked about endlessly — but never executed properly.
Then came Storm Daniel
In September 2023, the Mediterranean region experienced one of the deadliest and most destructive weather events in recent history: Storm Daniel. Thessaly was hit hard, with catastrophic floods wiping out homes, farmlands, and infrastructure. Over 70,000 hectares of land were affected. The storm reshaped the conversation.
In the aftermath, the Greek government signed an agreement with a Dutch consulting firm to develop a “Master Plan” for recovery and flood prevention. Tucked into that plan? A proposal to revisit — once again — the Acheloos diversion.
Is this the right time?
That’s the question on everyone’s mind. On one hand, Thessaly desperately needs a long-term solution to both drought and floods. On the other hand, repeating an old, contested idea with a troubled past may not be the best path forward. Scientists and civil society fear this is a knee-jerk political move rather than a sustainable, science-backed response to major climate challenges.
What’s clear is that Greece stands at a crossroads. It can learn from past missteps and commit to building a smarter, greener water future — or risk repeating a half-century-long cycle of promises, protests, and unfinished projects.
