Widespread forest drought and the need to take countermeasures

Question for written answer E-003911/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Yannis Maniatis (S&D)

Many areas of mountainous mainland Greece have been facing the widespread drying out of fir forests for several years. This phenomenon causes multiple negative impacts on forest ecosystems, biodiversity and the microclimate, as well as on local communities, as it significantly increases the risk of fires and degradation of the affected areas.

The drying is due to a mixture of factors, mainly the increase in wood-eating and bark-eating insects that are well-served by the adverse environmental conditions of recent years. The prolonged drought, high temperatures and lack of rainfall have worsened the trees' physiology, making them more vulnerable to insect attack.

Can the Commission say:

• 1.Has Greece sent an official request to the Commission to activate the Copernicus EMS system, in order to enable the immediate recording of affected forest areas?
• 2.Rural development measures for forests through the Common Agricultural Policy, the EU LIFE programme and the co-financed partnerships through Horizon Europe for the sustainability of forests are financial tools to address the problem. Has Greece made use of them to date?
• 3.How does the Commission assess progress in the implementation of the national plans for the prevention and management of forest risks related to climate change, such as forest diseases, which are provided for in Greece's programme under cohesion policy?

Submitted: 6.10.2025