Region of Attica: Approved the 2023 Budget

The Regional Council of Attica approved the Budget, the Project Planning and the Integrated Framework of Action for the financial year 2023 with the Regional Governor of Attica, George Patoulis, stating that «2023 will be a year of growth for Attica».

Among other things, the regional governor pointed out that 884 projects have been planned, budgeted 1.8 billion euros, with funding from own resources while the new NSRF have secured 1.6 billion euros, through PEP Attica, with a budget of 110 million euros have already been included 26 projects. At the same time, by using the possibility of funding from YMEPEPAA, flagship flood protection projects with a budget of 66 million euros are being financed.

The Athens Riviera regeneration project has been included in the Recovery Fund with €24.7 million, while €54 million has recently been approved for road safety actions in the Attica Region network. In addition, €10.2 million of actions related to Smart cities and intelligent applications have been approved and included in the Antonis Tritsis Programme.

At the same time, 3 flagship actions (bridge maintenance, road building and widening, parapet maintenance, etc.) with a total budget of €227 million have been submitted for funding under the «Strategic Contracts Development Programme».

He made special reference to the approval of the Regional Development Programme of the Region of Attica for the years 2021-2025, with a total budget of 404 million euros. In this program have included all the necessary projects for the safety of citizens, road maintenance, maintenance of traffic lights, safety parapets, electric lighting projects, cleaning of wells, cleaning of streams, snow removal, etc... He also made special reference to the projects through NSRF, such as the Paraolympako sports center Rafina, the expanded health center Anat. Attica, the northern cycling axis Gazi-Kifisia, the road safety of Kifissos, the upgrading, modernization and utilization of Lyssiatrio as an incubator of entrepreneurship and innovation.

«Attica is changing day by day, with over 2,000 projects underway, with a budget of more than 2 billion euros. We are the ones who secured over 1.6 billion euros from the new NSRF, an amount 50% more than the previous NSRF. We are the ones who gave 250 million euros to 10,000 businesses so that more than 50,000 jobs throughout Attica would not be closed and lost.

For the first time today, Attica has a comprehensive plan for flood protection. We are paving dozens of kilometres of roads that have not been asphalted for over 20 years. We shielded the public health system, allocating 250 million euros to hire more than 1800 doctors and nurses, about 300 social structures, which support the difficult daily life of more than 220,000 of our fellow human beings», said Mr Patoulis.

Modernisation of infrastructure

«Attica's infrastructure can withstand today, but to be sure that it will withstand in the future, we are updating plans and studies and preparing a new series of projects and interventions, with emphasis on flood protection projects. At the same time, we are updating the civil protection model. We are promoting recycling and reuse, as part of the implementation of an integrated waste management plan, adopting the principles of the circular economy.

We are reducing 70% energy consumption by replacing our electrical lighting network, we are carrying out energy upgrading projects in public buildings and schools, while at the same time we are creating new green spaces, such as the Faliro Park and upgrading existing ones, such as the Areos Field, Attiko Grove and Tritsis Park», G. Patoulis.

The planning for 2023

In detail during the presentation by C. Patoulis, the changes reflected in the content of the new budget and the technical programme are as follows:

• 884 projects, with a budget of €1.8 billion, will be carried out with own resources.
• Among them are projects of great value for sport, such as the Nea Smyrna indoor stadium and the Petros Kapagerov stadium in Piraeus.
• Major urban redevelopments such as Mikrolimano and Agios Dionysios in Piraeus. Asphalt paving projects throughout Attica. Port projects on the islands of the Saronic Gulf.
• Emphasis is placed on flood protection projects.
• The Region's own resources alone include 117 flood protection projects with a budget of €405 million.
• In addition, 26 projects with a budget of €110 million have already been included in the Attica CIP and a budget of €90 million has been earmarked for the new programming period, as well as €23 million for civil protection actions.
• The possibility of funding from YMEPEPAA is being exploited and proposals for flagship flood protection projects have been submitted.

Indicative projects

- flood protection of the eastern basin of the d.e. Ano Liosia, 12 million €

- regeneration of the Pikrodafni stream, 14 million €

- settlement of Sapphous stream 25 million €

- Agia Paraskevi rainwater, €15 million

The regional governor also referred to the coordinated actions to transfer to other funding sources the construction of projects such as:

• The Athens Riviera regeneration project, which concerns the section of the coastline of the Athenian Riviera, from Kallithea to the Town Hall of Varis - Voula - Vouliagmeni, crossing six municipalities, with a budget of €24.7 million, was transferred to the Recovery Fund. The aim is to build a pedestrian and cycle path for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the entire basin. The Region of Attica, in cooperation with TAIPED, has begun the necessary steps for its implementation so that it will be completed by the end of 2025.
• Approval of € 54 million for road safety actions in the network of the Region of Attica and actions necessary for the safety of the citizens of the basin are to be implemented. Indicatively, standard crossings for pedestrian crossings will be constructed, supply of electronic means of monitoring violations of the traffic code, services for monitoring the structural integrity of bridges, etc.
• Also approved and included in the Antonis Tritsis Programme
• 10.2 million in actions on Smart cities and intelligent applications.

Submission of a proposal for funding to the «Strategic Significance Contracts Development Programme» for 3 flagship actions:

1. repair and maintenance of bridges of the Region of Attica, budget 89.939.448,12 €

2. completion of the study of the engraving and widening of the provincial road Megara - Alepochori (mountain section) with a budget of 39.000.000.00 €

3. repair and maintenance of the parapets of the Attica Region with a budget of 98.000.000€

Referring to the refugees, Mr Patoulis, stressed that he understands the emblematic nature of the project and it is the intention of the administration of the Region to implement it. «For this reason, we are looking for sources of funding because the truth is that we have not found money for the implementation of the intervention, despite what is said,» he said.

Finally, he stressed that the Regional Development Programme of the Region of Attica for the years 2021-2025, with a total budget of 404 million €, has been approved.

«All the necessary works for the safety of citizens, road maintenance, traffic light maintenance, safety barriers, electric lighting works, manhole cleaning, stream cleaning, snow removal have been included in this. It is also planned to include development actions in the areas of smart growth (innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation), green growth (environmental protection, climate change), social development (health, employment, education, sport, social cohesion), extroversion actions (culture, tourism).

Today Attica is once again holding its head high. It is changing gear and has turned the page for good. We look to the future with optimism and confidence.

In 2023 Attica will be the region of projects, of growth, of new jobs. The Attica of safety, health and well-being. Attica of recycling and the circular economy, of humanity and solidarity. It will be the Region that will attract thousands of tourists,

will create new jobs, more and better incomes, and ensure a better daily life and a better quality of life for its citizens. And it will ensure all this because at the helm of the Region is an administration that has a plan, a programme, a vision, a willingness to work together and a willingness to build consensus. An administration that unites and does not divide. An administration that listens to citizens and provides solutions to real problems. An administration that respects the officials and employees because above all we consider them our partners I want to thank them for what they have done and for what they will do so that we can make Attica one of the best regions in Europe», noted the Attica regional governor.