2024-04-08 03:50:31
With various issues, mainly of a procedural nature on the agenda, the first regular ‘in-person’ meeting of the Board of Directors of PED South Aegean was held yesterday, in a hotel room in Athens.
The Dodecanese member of parliament of the ND was also present at the meeting. Mr. Vassilis Ypsilantis while only 14 people participated in physical presence and the other members – mayors, through ZOOM.
In his deposition, Mr. Ypsilantis assured that he will be by the PED’s side in any case that is required, while the PED’s scientific adviser on civil protection matters, Professor Efthimios Lekkas, was also present.
ALEXANDROS KOLIADIS
At his installation, the president of PED South Aegean and mayor of Rhodes, Mr. Al. Koliadis pointed out, among other things, the importance of the islands of the region in the Cyclades and Dodecanese, saying the following:
“It is a special honor and responsibility for me to be the president of the collective body of the primary island self-government of the South Aegean region, a region consisting of 34 municipalities in the Cyclades and Dodecanese, with approximately 320,000 permanent residents – but unevenly distributed. The northernmost island is at the height of Attica, while the southernmost, south of the Asia Minor coast. Our region stands out for its long-standing Culture, for its special geophysical beauties and for its rich tradition. Today, it is the main tourist region offering significant income to our national economy and supporting our country’s effort in its economic recovery. T.A. First and Second Degree, they are the main institutional factors for the organization and development of our island and local societies. Its geophysical specificity is also what determines the even greater degree of responsibility of the island self-government, in relation to the mainland. We, the islanders, through the functioning of our institutions, have achieved an enviable degree of cooperation, camaraderie and solidarity that is beyond and above various politics, local rivalries, etc.
The first goal of the new administration of the PED South Aegean is to further strengthen the cooperation of the First and Second Level Self-Government, for the social and economic benefit of our islanders.
Before us we have to deal with important problems, which have existed for years, such as the effort for the balanced development of our islands – regardless of size, the staffing of our municipalities with the necessary and competent human resources, the strengthening of inter-municipal / inter-island collaborations through the utilization of all our available development tools, such as our new financial resources mainly from European programs. Also, the development organizations that we should make the most of, etc.
But above all, it is the State’s awareness of the important contribution of our islands, at all levels, and their corresponding support. Our priority is to claim those statutory resources that come from our local economies and that must be reciprocated back to them so that we can face our great needs in infrastructure and maintenance projects, in the provision of services, etc.
We will continue and strengthen our efforts to strengthen social, health and welfare structures for all our islands.
Particular weight should be given to the continuation of our cordial cooperation with PNAi through democratic planning, at all levels of self-government as well as regional administration.
Our goal is also the systematic cooperation with the KEDE with the regions, the EETAA and all the scientific bodies that will potentially help us in our work. This effort of ours also requires the staffing of its services and its human resources – always based on our financial capabilities.
Most of the members of the PED are experienced local administrators with deep and long-term knowledge in T.A. I am deeply convinced that together we will achieve a lot for our islands”.
EFTHYMIOS LEKKAS
Professor Mr. Lekkas requested the updating of the decision of the PED in the context of concluding a P.E.D Programmatic Agreement. of the South Aegean with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, for the development of an applied research project entitled: “Pilot operational planning roadmap for natural risk management in the municipalities of the South Aegean Region”.
As he stated in his deposition:
“Along with all the issues of the climate crisis, they are dominant issues along with civil protection. In the previous period we had trained 70 PED staff in civil protection matters and as a result (based on the new data) we had decided to structure a pilot guide that requires updating – for plans with different risks. It is a key issue that the municipalities are looking at, with the mayors already aware because they are the first to be called upon to deal with extraordinary phenomena” – he said.
OTHER TOPICS
During the meeting, a non-agenda issue was discussed, which concerns an informational-tourism campaign with a special spot for the correct use of water, with exposure in the media.
However, Mr. Koliadis attributed a “sloppiness” in the management of some issues such as what has been noted in the course of the administration of the PED N.Aegeus until now, stressing that from now on “it is a new era”.
An extensive discussion followed on the role, composition and appointment of representatives – members in the PED committees.