European 4.7m Euro ΄bill΄ for Lefkimmi landfill has arrived
Lefkimmi
19 Feb 2019
/ 09:23
CORFU. The Cleansing Association has a gun to its head following the receipt (which had been expected) of the document from the European Funds Committee.
The document which went to the Ministry of Finance, Ionian Islands Regional Administration, the Cleansing Association and, of course, Corfu Municipality states that if Lefkimmi landfill isn't operational by 1 March, there will be a financial correction of 100% of the Cohesion Fund's contribution (what has been called a fine or repayment).
As it told Association members when they met in Brussels, the European Commission wants to close the file. At that time it gave Corfu an unofficial extension until 31/12/2018 for the landfill to start operating.
Representatives from the European Funds Committee came to Athens last Wednesday and met with the Finance Ministry to discuss the projects that are held up - such Lefkimmi landfill, Grammatikos landfill and others. It was made clear to the Ministry that these cases need to be completed 'yesterday' otherwise the Greek State will be asked to refund the money. The following day the 'bill' was sent to Corfu with a deadline for the licence to be granted - 28 February.
The Cleansing Association's first application for a licence at the end of 2018 was rejected with the Regional Environmental Services' report listing approximately 40 observations. So the European document which the Municipality received at the end of last week didn't come out of the blue.
What has been requested of the Regional Administration with the new application is for the residue landfill to be licensed - even with a three-month attestation of conformity and reinspection. According to the Cleansing Association, this will allow time for the required procedures for licensing to be carried out.
The community in Lefkimmi, however, has no intention of giving way and has insisted that it will continue to protest until the waste bales are removed and the facility has stopped operating.
As it told Association members when they met in Brussels, the European Commission wants to close the file. At that time it gave Corfu an unofficial extension until 31/12/2018 for the landfill to start operating.
Representatives from the European Funds Committee came to Athens last Wednesday and met with the Finance Ministry to discuss the projects that are held up - such Lefkimmi landfill, Grammatikos landfill and others. It was made clear to the Ministry that these cases need to be completed 'yesterday' otherwise the Greek State will be asked to refund the money. The following day the 'bill' was sent to Corfu with a deadline for the licence to be granted - 28 February.
The Cleansing Association's first application for a licence at the end of 2018 was rejected with the Regional Environmental Services' report listing approximately 40 observations. So the European document which the Municipality received at the end of last week didn't come out of the blue.
What has been requested of the Regional Administration with the new application is for the residue landfill to be licensed - even with a three-month attestation of conformity and reinspection. According to the Cleansing Association, this will allow time for the required procedures for licensing to be carried out.
The community in Lefkimmi, however, has no intention of giving way and has insisted that it will continue to protest until the waste bales are removed and the facility has stopped operating.
