International Conference on Circular Economy, Territorial Cohesion and Insularity – Region of Crete
The environment officer, member of the LIFE Task Force Mr. Dimitris Homatidis attended the International Conference for Circular Economy, Territorial Cohesion and Insularity, which was organized in Heraklion by the Region of Crete, with the support of the European Commission’s Environment Directorate, on Monday, November 14, 2016.
During the conference the importance of Circular Economy in environmental, economic and social level was discussed and the fact that it is the only viable solution at this moment for the future of Europe. EU’s territorial cohesion issues were also raised from the governors who were present and the fact that the population of the Greek insular regions does not feel as an equal member Europe. Issues such as over-taxation, transportation equivalent and non-categorisation of the islands by size, population, economy etc. were put before the EC’s delegates. This was followed by a brief presentation of the upcoming EU policies related to Circular Economy. At the end of the conference’s first a Declaration Plan was voter by at least 5 island regions of Europe (incl. Malta, Corsica), which provides for the establishment of European Group Territorial Cooperation, the statute of which will be voted in Malta during the incoming Presidency Malta at a future meeting.
During the second part of the conference, several projects were presented, all relevant to Circular Economy. An informative intervention followed, by the project representative of Greek LIFE Task Force, which informed the present representatives of local government on the priority set by the LIFE Programme on Circular Economy and the upcoming work of the Green Fund, which will help in submitting better quality applications for funding by LIFE Programme.
In the event, among others, the following were present:
- Socrates Famellos – Minister for the Environment
- Panagiotis Kouroumblis – Minister of Marine and Island Policy
- Stavros Arnaoutakis – Region of Crete
- Joanna Drake – Assoc. Gen. Director for the Environment, EC
- George-Stavros Kremlis – Head of Unit, DG Env. EC
- Mr. Jozef Stahl, Political Analyst Gen. Division of EU Regional Policy and Urban Development
- John Firmpas – Gen. Director, Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism
- Elias Kamateros – representative of Vice President Giannis Dragasakis
- Christiana Kalogerou – Region of Northern Aegean
- Theodore Galiatsatos – Region of Ionian Islands
- Representatives from Malta, Cyprus Municipalities Corsica, Southern Aegean, Northern Aegean, Ionian Islands, Peloponnese, Crete and Samos.