St. Arachovitis: An onslaught of environmentally destructive investments in Kythira – Peloponnese

Online meeting with President Arapis, professor at the Agricultural University, and the Board of Directors Management Agency for Protected Areas of Southern Peloponnese-Kythira based in Sellasia and SYRIZA-PS Member of Parliament for Laconia Stavros Arachovitis took place on Tuesday, January 26, with the topic of discussion being Law 4685/2020, which effectively abolished the newly established Protected Area Management Bodies (PAMBs).

Law 4685/2020 effectively abolished the newly established Protected Area Management Bodies (PMA), effectively halting a particularly progressive process of decentralization in environmental protection with the participation of renowned scientists, as well as members of local authorities and environmental organizations, on the boards of directors.

These bodies operated effectively and democratically and strengthened the protection of protected areas and the environment in practice. However, with the repeal of the previous Law 4519/2019, which established these new bodies, a centralized model of administration of protected areas is essentially being established, in the absence of the local community, while the existing boards of directors remain exposed with outstanding financial obligations, through no fault of their own.

We are bringing this issue back to Parliament. 45 members of parliament from SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, asking the Ministry of the Environment, in recognition of their work, to take into account the opinions issued to date by the FD. The protection of Protected Areas and the Environment requires the restoration of their autonomous, effective, democratic, and decentralized operation, which was established by the previous law.

The full text follows  Question:

QUESTION

To the Minister of Energy and Environment
Subject: Problems arising from Law 4685/2020 with the abolition and merger of Management Bodies

Law 4685/2020 effectively abolished the newly established Protected Area Management Bodies (PAPMs), halting a particularly progressive process of decentralisation in environmental protection with the participation of renowned scientists, as well as members of local government and environmental organisations, on the Boards of Directors. Law 4519/2019, which established the new bodies, was in line with EU commitments and proposals, democratically incorporated the representation of the local community, decentralised responsibilities and strengthened the protection of protected areas and the environment in practice.

During the debate on the bill in Parliament, SYRIZA MPs highlighted the anti-environmental dimension of the law, which could have significant negative impacts on the country's natural environment. At the same time, there were strong reactions from dozens of environmental organizations. More than 120 environmental movements and collectives, protected area agencies, agency employees, university departments, opposition parties, judicial bodies, and others expressed their objections.

Subsequently, Question 58 submitted by SYRIZA MPs highlighted the problems created by this law. However, none of the problems were resolved. On the contrary, the problems grew and spread. During their period of operation, they became a fait accompli. These were never taken seriously by the political leadership of the Ministry of the Environment, despite the persistent, and sometimes dramatic, warnings from the management of the Management Bodies.

During their operation, the newly established FPPs incurred financial obligations which, however, they are unable to meet, as they never achieved operational autonomy and never received the state subsidy with the funds provided for in their founding law 4519/2019. Creditors are demanding payment, and the people on the boards of directors are exposed, without bearing any responsibility for the situation they find themselves in.

The scientific staff of the FDs, in collaboration with their Boards of Directors in certain cases, such as that of the FD of Southern Peloponnese and Kythira, developed internally and on their own proposals for inclusion in the YMEPERAA for the completion of the National System of Protected Areas and management structures for Natura 2000 areas and the implementation of habitat management, species and Natura 2000 areas with the aim of improving conservation status and protection. However, if this commendable initiative does not have the necessary continuity to produce the results for which it was submitted, then valuable time will be lost in the management of protected areas.

In the short time they have been operating, the FD have already issued opinions on matters within their competence and territorial responsibility. These opinions must be taken into account as they were issued lawfully and are scientifically substantiated.

• Because the Management Bodies were legally established and operated effectively, democratically, and in a decentralized manner,
• Because, within the framework of their operation and during this time, certain situations arose that must be taken into account and resolved,
• Because it effectively abolishes substantive control over the environmental licensing process for development projects and investments within protected areas,
• Because a centralized model of administration of protected areas is being established in the absence of the local community,

The Minister is asked:

1. How do you intend to address the issue of outstanding financial obligations incurred by the legally existing boards of directors?;
2. How will the work already produced during their short period of operation be utilized?;
3. Are you committed to taking into account the opinions issued by the FD so far?;
4. Ultimately, do you believe that abolishing the FD was the right choice, or do you intend to restore their autonomous operation by reinstating Law 4519/2019?;

The questioning MPs

Arachovitis Stavros
Famellos Socrates
Avramakis Eleftherios
Athanasios Athanasios (Nasos)
Alexiadis Tryfon
Anagnostopoulou Athanasia (Sia)
Aulonitis Alexandros-Christos
Vardakis Socrates
Vetta Kalliopi
Yannoulis Christos
Gara Anastasia
Gkiolas Ioannis
Dritsas Theodoros
Zeibek Husein
Higoumenidis Nikolaos
Thrapsaniotis Emmanouil
Kalamatianos Dionysios-Charalambos
Karasarlidou Euphrosyne (Froso)
Katsis Marios
Kafantari Chara
Kokalis Vasileios
Malama Sunday
Mamoulakis Charalambos (Haris)
Markos Konstantinos
Meikopoulos Alexandros
Barkas Konstantinos
Moraitis Athanasios (Thanos)
Xenogiannakopoulou Maria-Eliza (Mariliza)
Papailiou Georgios
Papanatsiou Aikaterini
Perka Theopisti (Petite)
Polakis Pavlos
Poulou Panagiou (Giota)
Santorini Nektarios
Sarakiotis Ioannis
Panagiotis Skourletis (Panos)
Skouroliakos Panagiotis (Panos)
Skoufa Elissavet (Betty)
Syrmalenios Nikolaos
Tzoufi Meropi
Triantafyllidis Alexandros
Filis Nikolaos
Dimitrios Charitou
Christidou Rallia
Psychogios Georgios