A question to the competent ministers was submitted by the members of the opposition on the initiative of the Sectoral Head of Digital Policy of SYRIZA - Progressive Alliance, George Karameros, on the topic «Why the government turned the implementation of the Fire Protection Regulation into an ultimatum and a new charge for citizens».
The question is set out below:
QUESTION
To the Ministers
Environment and Energy
Home Affairs
Climate Crisis and Civil Protection
Subject: «Why the government has turned the implementation of the Fire Protection Regulation into an ultimatum and a new charge for citizens»
With the Joint Ministerial Decision of the Ministers of Environment and Energy, Interior and Climate Crisis and Civil Protection (YPEN/DAOKA/55904/2019/19-05-2023), the Fire Protection Regulation for Properties in or near forest areas was correctly but incorrectly adopted.
The need for a risk assessment for properties located in or near forest areas, peri-urban forests or even urban parks is necessary if we take into account the extreme changes that occur under conditions of intense climate change. Moreover, we have repeatedly insisted on the need to implement a well thought-out regulation in order to avoid the dramatic effects of fires.
The purpose of the state in implementing this regulation should be the productive compliance of all stakeholders in a national plan to prevent the occurrence and expansion of such phenomena in order to protect human life, civil property and the natural environment. In this effort, the political leaderships of these ministries seem to ignore the possibilities that exist in the public sector and households to implement the provisions within tight deadlines.
It was only on 15 March of this year that the Circular of the Ministry of Environment No. YPEN/DAOKA/28909/848/15-03-2024 was issued, which accelerates the implementation of this regulation, which, due to its issuance on the last working day before the May 2023 elections, did not receive the publicity it deserved in time. The circular gave a deadline of 31 March 2024 for the preparation of a Risk Assessment Form and Technical Report by a competent technical scientist on behalf of the municipalities, while owners were given a deadline of 30 April 2024 to submit the Declaration of Implementation of Fire Safety Measures in which they declare the correct implementation of the measures provided for in the report of the competent technical scientist. The aim is to implement the measures by the end of March 2025 for vulnerable properties and one year later for medium and low risk properties.
The description of the implementation of the Regulation also reveals the prohibitive cost of taking preventive measures, i.e. the building of fences around the plots of land in question, the owners of which will soon be treated as potential infringers. The fines are also estimated to be high for owners of medium-sized plots of land that contain even a shed or stable. We cannot overlook the fact that, based on what is laid down in Law 5090/2024, there are severe penalties for owners ranging from fines of tens or hundreds of thousands of euros to criminal liabilities punishable by imprisonment.
Publications talk about the issuance of a new circular that will postpone by one month the deadlines for 2024 without effectively addressing the problem and without ensuring productive and at the lowest possible cost to owners compliance with the Regulation. It is noted that the shortages of municipal staff especially in areas with extensive forest areas and especially in specialized technical services staff are great and in turn do not contribute to meeting the deadlines.
At the same time, civil society organisations are highlighting the problem and calling for the immediate postponement of the regulation, demanding a significant extension of the deadlines, provision for funding and generally the review of the Joint Ministerial Decision in a new framework. The Hippocratic State Residents' Association representing residents of a fire-affected area, in fact, raises the issue of the absence of exemptions for fire-affected areas temporarily due to the extensive damage it suffered in the 2021 fires.
Because the deadlines for compliance measures seem to be passing fruitlessly, at a cost to the environment and to owners who have to meet their obligations,
Because the staff of the first-tier local authorities and especially the employees of the technical services can barely meet the fixed obligations of the municipalities, let alone implement these obligations within strict and short deadlines,
Because the reduction in disposable income puts many owners of such properties in a difficult position to meet the measures to be implemented,
Because the protection of property and the environment is a concern of the state under Articles 17 and 24 of the Constitution,
The relevant Ministers are asked:
1. How and on the basis of which study of available human and financial resources were the compliance deadlines for municipalities and owners set on 31/03/2024 and 30/04/2024 respectively?;
2. Do you intend to revise the provisions of the Regulation in a way that will encourage individuals to comply with the necessary measures?;
3. How do you intend to support the municipalities in the correct and quick preparation of hazard maps in order to better inform citizens about the implementation of the Regulation?;
4. Will they provide the necessary safeguards to owners so that the state's failure to comply with the regulation will not affect their potential compensation in the event of fire damage to their property?;
The Questioning Members of Parliament
Karameros Georgios
Zambaras Miltiades (Miltos)
Kedikoglou Simeon
Poulou Panagiou (Giota)
