New Greece-Bulgaria Deal Secures Irrigation in Evros Until 2030
Greece and Bulgaria have signed a Joint Declaration regarding the water supply from the Arda River, ensuring irrigation in the Evros region for the next five years following the expiration of the previous agreement.
The Joint Declaration between Greece and Bulgaria on the use of the Ardas River’s waters marks a significant development for agricultural production in the border region of Evros.
The signing took place on April 2nd, with the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, and his Bulgarian counterpart, Georg Georgiev, following coordinated negotiations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministries of Environment & Energy and Rural Development & Food.
The Joint Declaration guarantees the provision of a sufficient quantity of water from Bulgaria to Greece for the next five years, bridging the gap left by the expiration of the sixty-year bilateral Greece-Bulgaria agreement on the management of the river’s waters.
The Ardas River originates from the northern slopes of Mount Kourslar, near the Pasmakli Plateau north of Xanthi, and is the second-largest tributary of the Evros River in terms of length. It joins the Evros River approximately 19 kilometers upstream of Orestiada and about 6 kilometers upstream of Edirne, between the villages of Kastanies and Marasia.
This new agreement is expected to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted operation of the irrigation system in Evros, critically supporting local agricultural production and crop security. At the same time, it strengthens cross-border cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria in the field of sustainable natural resource management.