The program encompasses 103 interventions across 61 island municipalities (OTAs) and Municipal Water and Sewerage Authorities (DEYAs), supported by funding amounting to €9,073,448 from the Public Investment Program, under the Special Action Plan for Drought for the year 2025.
Moreover, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the General Secretariat for Environment and Water, an additional €20 million in funding has been approved for projects targeting regions with immediate and critical needs.
A key priority has been the streamlining of the licensing process for small-scale desalination units through fast-track procedures. To date, 35 new units have been licensed across more than 27 islands, substantially enhancing their water supply infrastructure.
Simultaneously, the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy provides vital technical assistance to smaller island municipalities and oversees procurement processes to prevent delays. It serves as the contracting authority for Megisti, Leipsoi, Kimolos, the Diapontia Islands, Gavdos, Agios Efstratios, and the Panormitis Monastery in Symi, while also financing the engagement of technical consultants in over 15 municipalities to ensure the timely completion of essential water projects.
Additionally, collaboration is progressing with the Ministries of Environment and Energy, Interior, and Economy and Finance, aiming to develop standardized specification documents, implement unified costing methodologies for desalination projects, and support vulnerable beneficiaries.
Finally, within the framework of the National Water Plan and under the coordination of Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy leverages its expertise to ensure that island-specific considerations remain a fundamental criterion in the formulation of water resource management policies.
Since 2019, the Ministry and the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy have financed over 400 projects across 78 islands, with a total budget exceeding €60 million, prioritizing the most remote and underserved communities.
