2024-04-29 04:42:20
The first regular meeting of the Subcommittee on Mountainous Areas of the Special Standing Committee on Regions of the Parliament, met under the chairmanship of Manos Konsolas, and had as its subject the policies and proposals for the development of mountainous areas.
Present at the meeting was the President of the Parliament, Mr. Konstantinos Tasoulas, who from the first moment embraced and supported the idea of creating an autonomous Subcommittee for Mountainous Areas.
Mr. Ioannis Hatzigeorgiou, Rector of the National Technical University of Metsov, Professor of the School of Shipbuilding and Mechanical Engineering, Mr. Dimitris Kaliabakos, Professor of the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering of the National Technical University of Metsov, Director of the Metsovian Center for Interdisciplinary Research ( ME.K.DE.), on behalf of ENPE, Mr. Alexandros Kahrimanis, Regional Governor of Epirus, on behalf of KEDE, Mr. Sokratis Kefalogiannis, Mayor of Anogeia, President of the Committee of Mountainous Municipalities of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece and Ms. Maria – Christina Averof, Mayor of Metsovo.
It is worth pointing out that the NTUA Interdisciplinary Research Center is the only research center in the country dealing with mountainous and isolated areas, with significant activity, but also with the formulation of applied policy proposals for mountainous areas.
The President of the Mountain Areas Subcommittee, in his presentation, emphasized that our country is called upon to face the problem of the desertification of mountainous areas, which is linked to the lack of development incentives, the lack of infrastructure and demographics, while he pointed out that we need a National Policy for the mountainous regions that will exceed the term limit of a government.
At the same time, Mr. Konsolas referred to specific proposals, such as:
1st: A new Spatial Planning, where it does not exist, in the mountainous areas but also in the creation of a Mountain Fund.
2nd: To the improvement and adaptation of the transport systems to the modern needs of the inhabitants of the mountainous regions, but also “smart” policies that will compensate for the transport costs.
3rd: In development incentives for the financing of investment projects in mountainous areas, adapted to the goal of developing and strengthening economic and business activity in mountainous areas.
4th: In shaping infrastructure and conditions for the energy autonomy of mountainous and inaccessible areas, by strengthening the footprint of Renewable Energy Sources and by creating micro-grids and with a special legislative and institutional framework.
5th: To improve the administrative and electronic service infrastructure for the inhabitants of the mountainous regions.
6th: In drawing up policies to deal with and stop the demographic problem in the mountainous areas.
7th: In highlighting and making use of abandoned settlements.
8th: In a new model of tourism development for mountainous areas, with an emphasis on quality, experience, alternative forms of tourism, attracting digital nomads, coupling with the primary sector, with certification programs for the use of local products in catering.