Türkiye—Technical Assistance to Prepare Flood Risk Management Plan for Meriç-Ergene River Basin

In recent years, Türkiye’s 25 hydrological basins have been increasingly prone to extreme flood events that have caused serious economic, social, and environmental impacts and losses in human life. As part of its accession to the European Union (EU), Türkiye is required to adapt and prepare an individual implementation plan for the EU’s Floods Directive, the centerpiece of European flood risk management policy.

Our project works to reduce the adverse consequences of flood events for human health, environment, cultural heritage, and economic activity through the assessment and management of flood risk. This intervention focuses on the preparation of flood risk management plans for the Meriç-Ergene River Basin, which is situated in Türkiye’s northwest on the boundaries with Greece and Bulgaria. The project provides workshops to a range of stakeholders to strengthen the capacities of the national, river basin, and local authorities in planning, and implementation of the flood risk management plans.

Stock image of the Meriç-Ergene River Basin.

Sample Activities

• Support the implementation of the Flood Risks Assessment and Management Directive.
• Revise the existing flood warning systems as flood forecasting and early warning system and extend their coverage to basins.
• Prepare the flood risk management plan for the transboundary Meriç-Ergene River Basin, compliant with the Floods Directive.

Select Results

• Organised an opening event in Edirne with 120 representatives from national and local institutions involved in flood and water management.
• Completed study visits to Denmark, Finland, and Sweden to expose Türkiye’s stakeholders to transboundary preliminary flood risk assessment, forecasting, monitoring, and preventing hydrological threats.
• Performed site visits in various parts of river basins in Edirne, Kirklareli, and Tekirdag to assess flood risk.
• Facilitated a workshop on flood management planning in Edirne with 54 participants from different regional and national institutions in Türkiye.