«Now is the time for proposals and projects with a development footprint» stressed the president of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) Dimitris Papastergiou, speaking at the digital workshop co-organised by the leading institution of the Local Government with the International Chamber of Commerce of Greece (ICC) on the role and dynamics of the Municipalities as a driver of growth in the post COVID-19 season.
The conference was attended and spoken by many members of the government and in particular the Ministers of Interior, Makis Voridis, Transport and Infrastructure, Kostas Karamanlis, Finance, Christos Staikouras, the Deputy Ministers of Interior, Stelios Petsas, Development and Investment, Nikos Papathanasis, the Deputy Ministers of Digital Governance for Simplification of Procedures, Georgios Georgantas, Research and Technology, Christos Dimas, Labour and Social Affairs, Maria Syringela, Rural Development and Food, Fotini Arabatzi and Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis.
Papastergiou stressed the important role that Local Authorities have to play in the development of Greek cities, through the existing financial instruments with the necessary improvements that are needed, as KEDE has pointed out and updates: Sustainable development for people, with people and the environment», he said.
He also called for the role of local government «in the planning and decisions of the new NSRF, to become distinct.» The president of the International Chamber of Commerce of Greece (ICC) - mayor of Sparta and former minister, Peter Dukas, in his speech, stressed the need for the recovery of the Greek economy and local communities through the Municipalities. The Minister of Interior, Makis Voridis, referring to the post-Covid-19 era, stressed, among other things, that the question is how to create added value in the regions of the country in order to have a final development footprint, stressing that the government has already taken important decisions, which, as far as Local Government is concerned, are reflected in the «Antonis Tritsis» programme.
The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Costas Karamanlis, referred to «the three common fields of action» ministry and municipalities, which he said are infrastructure, institutional and improving everyday life with particular reference to Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans. .
Finance Minister, Christos Staikouras, noted that municipalities can be useful and helpful to the development of the country, through the search for innovative, smart and sustainable solutions. In terms of Recovery Fund, Mr Staikouras said that a package of more than €3 billion has been included for local and regional development projects through municipalities and regions. The Deputy Minister of Development and Investment, Nikos Papathanasis, stressed that now in 70 days, up from 670 days to date, the closure of pending issues for the completion of investment projects will be completed and so investors will get started more quickly and jobs will be immediately visible to citizens. In this way, he said, 2000 projects are expected to be unblocked across the country, which will absorb 2.5 billion euros worth of projects and create many jobs.
The Deputy Minister of the Interior, Stelios Pecas, stressed that an extension will be given for the inclusion of projects in the Antonis Tritsis programme« by 31 May, so that all municipalities have time to submit proposals. He referred to the possibility of transferring projects from the Philodemus 2 at Antonis Tritsis, where necessary, thus helping to leverage money and speed up procedures. He further said that the projects through the Recovery Fund for urban renewal along with the Antonis Tritsis projects, which are about 5 billion, will bring growth but will also change the daily life of citizens who will enjoy the projects that will be visible by 2023, Petsas said. He also mentioned that has already started the discussion on «serious recruitment planning in the municipalities, especially where it is clear that there is a problem at the level of technical services and machine operators.».
The Minister of State for Digital Governance for Simplification of Procedures, Georgios Georgantas, described the digital transformation of the state as a «national need and priority», stating that today more than 1200 digital services are available to citizens. The Minister of State for Research and Technology, Christos Dimas, pointed out that Smart cities are a major technological challenge but also a crucial step in the transition to the digital age.
The Minister of State for Labour and Social Affairs, Maria Syrengela, stressed that equality must work horizontally to be effective and women must participate in public life. Quota, he said, is a tool, but the more women who decide to take part in public life, the more can be elected and certainly more can be in positions of responsibility.
The Minister of State for Rural Development and Food, Fotini Arabatzi, speaking in the session on the role of women in the post-covid-19 era, noted that the female gender in the period of pandemic, was most affected. Finally, the Deputy Minister of State for Sport, Lefteris Avgenakis, referred to the huge potential of the cultural and cultural heritage of sport, which can develop into a heavy industry with great potential for growth both locally and nationally. He also made reference to the programme for the improvement of all sports facilities run by the ministry.
