Despite the significant available resources, high costs and the large number of firefighters, Greece records one of the worst performances in the EU in burned forest areas, as demonstrated by the new policy brief published by the Center for Liberal Studies (KEFIM) and signed by public administration expert and ASEP advisor, Panagiotis Karkatsoulis.
In particular, the strategy remains one-dimensionally focused on suppression, with insufficient emphasis on prevention and restoration, which leads to policies that are both costly and ineffective.
The main conclusions of the study:
In 2023, the economic cost of forest fires in Greece was estimated at 1.58 billion euros – a significant “hidden debt” of climate change for the country.
The current institutional framework (Law 4662/2020) is characterized by ambiguity and inability to implement, while critical provisions, such as the Regional Civil Protection Centers, remain inactive.
Civil Protection structures are understaffed, with aging personnel and limited use of technology.
Local government and volunteer networks lack the necessary decentralization, support and integration into operational planning.
The policy proposals formulated by KEFIM include:
Review and simplification of the institutional framework, with a clear definition of roles and responsibilities.
Targeted decentralization of responsibilities and resources to local government.
Strengthening critical units with specialized personnel and substantial integration of volunteers.
Substantial cooperation with civil society and the private sector.
Utilization of technology and data, with a unified early warning system and mandatory preparation of vulnerability studies.
The General Director of KEFIM, Nikos Rompapas, stated: “The enormous resources allocated for repression are not yielding the expected results. It is time to move to a comprehensive strategy with an emphasis on prevention, decentralization and cooperation with civil society and the private sector. Only in this way will we effectively protect lives, property and our natural environment.”
