Environment Minister:"Modern, European solution for Corfu waste"
Hadjidakis
18 Sep 2019
/ 08:50
IOANNINA. The Minister for Environment & Energy Kostis Hadjidakis stressed that it is imperative to review the National and Regional Waste Management Plans but didn΄t comment on the possibility of removing waste from Corfu.
The Minister for Environment & Energy Kostis Hadjidakis stressed the need for a "modern, European solution for Corfu waste" during Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' visit to the Epirus Regional Integrated Waste Management Facility in Eleftherohori, Ioannina.
Mr. Hadjidakis, who was accompanying the Prime Minister along with Messrs. Theodorikakos and Voridis, said that both PESDA (Regional Waste Management Plan) and ESDA (National Waste Management Plan) will be reviewed and problems such as those in Corfu and Lefkada will be included in a new comprehensive plan which needs to be drawn up.
The Minister said, "The important thing is that a solution needs to be found in Corfu itself and any partial solutions need to be looked at with public health in mind. But above all - and this is why Ionian Islands Regional Governor Ms. Kratsa was here - there needs to be a modern, European solution for Corfu." He did not comment, however, on whether waste should be shipped off the island or not.
Mr. Hadjidakis didn't hesitate to hold the SYRIZA Government responsible for the current waste management situation throughout Greece, and reminded everyone that he was the one in 2014 who put his signature to the construction of the Integrated Waste Management Facility in Ioannina - which happened - and in Corfu - which didn't even get off the ground.
"This facility, despite the rearguard defence of some SYRIZA members, was completed in 2019 - this year - and I believe it has improved the quality of life in the region. Across the water in Corfu the Regional Governor, who was from SYRIZA, decided to cancel the project and this 'progressive' policy has led to the current extremely problematic situation in Corfu. And I think it is for all members of the public, here and throughout Greece, to judge where there has been delay and where progress. I believe that there has been progress here because we adopted a European solution which is applicable everywhere - a common sense solution."
With input from Liberal.gr
Mr. Hadjidakis, who was accompanying the Prime Minister along with Messrs. Theodorikakos and Voridis, said that both PESDA (Regional Waste Management Plan) and ESDA (National Waste Management Plan) will be reviewed and problems such as those in Corfu and Lefkada will be included in a new comprehensive plan which needs to be drawn up.
The Minister said, "The important thing is that a solution needs to be found in Corfu itself and any partial solutions need to be looked at with public health in mind. But above all - and this is why Ionian Islands Regional Governor Ms. Kratsa was here - there needs to be a modern, European solution for Corfu." He did not comment, however, on whether waste should be shipped off the island or not.
Mr. Hadjidakis didn't hesitate to hold the SYRIZA Government responsible for the current waste management situation throughout Greece, and reminded everyone that he was the one in 2014 who put his signature to the construction of the Integrated Waste Management Facility in Ioannina - which happened - and in Corfu - which didn't even get off the ground.
"This facility, despite the rearguard defence of some SYRIZA members, was completed in 2019 - this year - and I believe it has improved the quality of life in the region. Across the water in Corfu the Regional Governor, who was from SYRIZA, decided to cancel the project and this 'progressive' policy has led to the current extremely problematic situation in Corfu. And I think it is for all members of the public, here and throughout Greece, to judge where there has been delay and where progress. I believe that there has been progress here because we adopted a European solution which is applicable everywhere - a common sense solution."
With input from Liberal.gr
