Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-359/24

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,...