We present a methodology for assessing the economic efficiency of ecological measures in river basins and its application for the East Aegean region. It follows the European Water Framework Directive (European Commission, 2000). Unlike other similar studies, the presented methodology has been developed and tested in terms of the water pollution due to mining activities.

The application of this methodology to the water areas will make it possible to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of the measures taken and identify cases of derogation. Based on them, we will plan additional measures to meet the objectives of the Directive in the period 2022-2027.

In terms of economic theory, the methodology can be described as follows: The cost effectiveness analysis used to select the optimal mix of costs is integrated into the cost-benefit analysis to assess the cost-effectiveness of the proposed measures.