- Water scarcity in holiday countries
The intense heat and drought that have dominated much of southern Europe this summer are also having significant impacts on water supplies. However, not all countries and regions are equally affected.
For instance, water reservoirs on Cyprus are currently only one-third full, while Spain is currently not facing a major problem compared to previous years. It's a different story in Italy, where especially Sicily is struggling: Water shortages have been declared in some areas due to the lack of rain over the past weeks, and billions in agricultural losses are feared.
In Greece, water is becoming scarce on popular tourist islands like Santorini, Mykonos, and Paros. The influx of tourists is partly to blame for driving up water consumption. Nevertheless, there are no state-imposed measures yet, despite the severe drought in regions of Bulgaria and Turkey, where rainfall this year is the lowest in 23 years.
The European Union has expressed concern over the water crisis in several member states, such as Italy and Greece, affected by the extreme weather conditions. Efforts are underway to provide assistance and implement water conservation measures within the Union's framework.
Furthermore, the dire situation in Greece and other Mediterranean countries is causing tension within the European Union, prompting discussions on the need for collective, collaborative responses to address this shared environmental challenge.
