About a month ago, Prime Minister Mitsotakis spoke at a conference in Orestiada. The title was «National Strategy for Regional and Local Development». Pompous and impressive! Among other things, he said that «for us, the convergence between regional units is a central political priority». He announced projects for Evros. He spoke of secured funding and great speed in the implementation of projects.
As far as (and) the notorious «regional development» is concerned, it is clear that we are being deliberately fooled. Almost the entire region sees young people leaving, sees the economy deteriorating, sees no projects being implemented or at least not being implemented at a pace that could create conditions for staying. Especially in northern Evros (where the Prime Minister was speaking) Orestiada in the past decade has seen a population decline of 16%, Didymoteicho 17% and Soufli 21%...
It's not a local thing, it's not a coincidence. When all «development» is focused on tourism and real estate, the whole economy suffers, but especially some regions are doomed... Besides, these two pillars are not stable, anything (regional wars, climate phenomena, economic crisis in the countries of origin of tourists) can affect tourism and inhibit real estate.
Some people think that the region is developing economically in the tourist areas and that there is no problem there. Wrong, there is a problem and it is due to the policies of the government. Do you want an example?;
I am well aware of what is happening on one island, Kythera, which has seen its population decline by 10% in the last decade. We are talking about an island that has not been destroyed by anarchic tourist development, is particularly beautiful and ecologically protected, has agricultural production, is relatively easily accessible by land (via the Peloponnese), has air and coastal connections.
But what does Kythera lack and why do young people leave it?;
They don't have good education for children. The Kythera High School started in September with the principal and two teachers for over 90 students... After mobilizations of the whole local community (which is politically conservative) the gaps were partially filled. The students feel second class since they will have to compete with children from other areas who received education without gaps.
They do not have good health coverage. The hospital is operating with large gaps in medical and nursing staff. Many cases which in the recent past were treated in Kythera, now have to be transferred to other hospitals...
Transport is problematic. The airport runway is not extended, the ferry connecting the island with Piraeus and Crete is inadequate (often unable to reach the port), there is no internal transport, the main road network is neglected.
Services are being downgraded overall. In recent years, branches of banks, post offices, telecommunications, the Magistrate's Court, etc. have been closed.
Accuracy on the island is well above the levels of Athens. The money that residents and businesses are entitled to due to the Transport Equivalent is received with a delay of up to two years...
Agricultural production is not supported. Cooperatives are not adequately helped to standardise products, to cope with the drought due to the climate crisis, etc.
The infrastructure is inadequate. The biggest problem is the water supply network, which is problematic, while boreholes have to draw water from deeper and deeper natural reservoirs.
The neoliberal Mitsotakis government is clearly responsible for all this. It is clear that they are not interested in public education and public health, they want to turn citizens to the private sector. They are not interested in infrastructure, everywhere they neglect or privatise it. They do not exercise the role of controller in a number of service activities, they turn a blind eye to everything, leaving many things to their own devices. Then, at most, it's the stationmaster's or the captain's fault.
The only good thing is that societies are reacting, there are many who want to live in the periphery and are simply demanding obvious infrastructure and services to avoid becoming immigrants...
For the rest, if you talk about «regional development» in the cafes, they look at you like a dowel. If you talk about digital nomads they will counter, «right but what internet speeds»?;
In a nutshell:
-Now more than ever, regional development is needed.
-Now over-concentration in cities is clearly increasing the threats from climate change (see what happened in Valencia).
-Now many young people are looking for another model of life and work, less stressful.
-We just happened to have a Mitsotakis government and no opposition...
-Now is the time to impose a model of substantial regional development.
Otherwise we will simply make statements about how many young people have emigrated outside Greece, which areas are being deserted etc...
Author of the article:
Journalist, member of ESIEA, member of the Board of Directors of R/S Athens 984
