The mayor of Trikala and president of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, Dimitris Papastergiou, spoke to the IONIAN CHANNEL camera on the sidelines of the event. Conference of Island Municipalities which took place in Kythira.
Mr. Papastergiou referred to the need to provide more support to the mayors of small islands, as, in his words, «they are not just mayors. They are also registrars and garbage truck drivers.» He emphasized that today there are «appropriate financial tools» to which small island municipalities need «equal access.» The problem for the president of K.E.D.E. is that although there are many such tools, «these municipalities lack the personnel, the resources, and the ability to submit proposals and obtain the funds to which they are entitled.».
The president of KEDE then referred to a study conducted by scientists in the field of local government, through the Institute of Local Government, on the calculation of the load-bearing capacity of local government buildings. referred to a study conducted by scientists in the field of local government, through the Institute of Local Government, on calculating the carrying capacity of islands and creating infrastructure that will allow the «tourism product to gain added value.» For him, «the secret is not quantity but how we can get more out of the same or smaller number of visitors,» as he characteristically stated. «We need to enrich the tourism product with flavors from products and local services that can be produced and make these islands stand out,» he added.
Mr. Papastergiou gave national significance to the very sensitive issue of creating incentives for the islands to remain inhabited, quoting the mayor of Halki, who said that «people who will raise the Greek flag must remain behind.» At the same time, he acknowledged that transportation and health care are major problems, areas that «have issues,» as he characteristically said.
On the subject of energy, the mayor of Trikala presented the GReco Islands model, highlighting the promotion of an initiative for Greek green islands, through which «energy will not be a problem but an incentive for the islands to be inhabited.» For him, it is imperative to ensure a «balance between the energy each island needs and the energy it produces.» O. Papastergiou emphasized the sector of circular energy management and the contribution of RES to its production.
«The circularity of the circular economy in energy and waste is the goal, and we must strive to ensure that it starts first on the islands. It makes no sense for waste to travel from island to island, only to end up in Athens where we will manage it.».
In conclusion, the president of KEDE expressed optimism, stating that «the process began with islands such as Astypalaia and Halki, while Kythira has had local waste management for years. However, efforts are needed to «expand this with a sustainable plan so that our islands stand out for environmental reasons as well.».
