M. Konsolas: “New prospects for European funding for Greek islands”

Important news was highlighted by the discussion on public policies for insularity, organized at the initiative of the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Insular Areas of the Parliament, Mr. Manos Konsolas.

The Deputy Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Mr. Stefanos Gikas, revealed that the Greek government is claiming, at the European level, the formation of a sectoral program for insularity.

It is recalled that Mr. In a speech to the Committee of the European Regions, Consolas spoke of a new European approach to island regions, which should also include the broadening of the criteria for the distribution of European funds to island regions.

He had also emphasized that the criteria for financing island regions should include, in addition to the GDP of each region, new criteria such as the competitiveness index and the concept of insularity, as well as other indicators that shape the framework of the coherence of values.

Manos Consolas also raised the issue of changing the way in which Central Autonomous Resources are distributed to island municipalities, as well as the establishment of new rules for the organization chart of island municipalities that respond to their staffing needs by establishing a specific and high percentage of trained employees.

The MP for Dodecanese also pointed out the need to invest in 5G infrastructure, in the creation of fiber optic infrastructure in buildings, in the digital interconnection of the Greek islands, in higher internet speeds since the digital economy, the expansion of teleworking and the attraction of digital nomads who will work remotely require infrastructure at the local level, which in turn will be a prerequisite for local and regional development.

This special meeting of the Subcommittee on Insular Areas was attended by Mr. Stefanos Gikas, Deputy Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Mr. Emmanouil Koutoulakis, Secretary General of the Aegean and Insular Policy of the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy, Mr. George Leontaritis, Member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Republic of Cyprus and Deputy Governor of the Cyclades Region, Mr. Efstratios (Stratos) Charchalakis, President of the Committee for Islands and Political Cohesion of the Hellenic Republic of Cyprus, Mayor of Kythera and Antikythera, Mr. Alexandros Koliadis, President of the Regional Association of Municipalities (RAM) of the South Aegean, Mayor of Rhodes, Mr. Taxiarchis Verros, President of the RAM of the North Aegean, Mayor of West Lesvos, Mr. Georgios Stassinopoulos, President of the RAM of the Ionian Islands, Mayor of Zakynthos, Mr. Georgios Marinakis, President of the RAM of Crete, Mayor of Rethymno, Mr. Michalis Angelopoulos, President of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Local Government (ITA) of KEDE, Mr. Athanasios Zlatoudis, Secretary General of the Chamber Group for the Development of the Greek Islands (EOAEN), Deputy President of the Tourism Department of the Magnesia Chamber, Mr. Dimitrios Maravelias, President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Society for Local Development and Local Government (EETAA SA) and Mr. Ioannis Goupios, Director of Economic Development, Organization & Environment of EETAA.

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