Appeal to the European Commission against the investment in Erimitis
Erimitis
29 Jan 2020
/ 11:05
CORFU. Large turnout for the press conference given by ΄Erimitis Plus΄ and the Society for the Protection of the Corfu Environment.
There was a large turnout for yesterday's press conference for the local media given by ΄Erimitis Plus΄ and the Society for the Protection of the Corfu Environment in protest against the investment in North Corfu. The number of organisations and members of the public present was much greater than at previous such meetings.
Amongst those attending were former Corfu Mayor Kostas Nikolouzos, who had always opposed the investment; DOPAP President Nikos Korakianitis; the Director of the Ionian Islands branch of the GNTO Kostas Tsoumanis; Regional Councillor and LAE member Stefanos Samouilis; Ekinisi leader and Central Corfu & Diapontia Islands Municipal Councillor Lefteris Markatis; North Corfu Municipal Councillors Theodoros Mavronas and Socrates Trifonas as well as several former local authority representatives, representatives from various organisations and a lot of young people.
The meeting was also attended by the LAE national political party member Dimitris Stratoulis, who is in Corfu to present his book.
Mr. Stratoulis spoke briefly with the 'Erimitis Plus' President Dimitris Fatiras expressing his support and wishing the movement luck.
The movement against the privatisation of Erimitis seems to have gained strength and is continuing its efforts to prevent the NCH Capital investment. The two organisations are appealing to the European Commission in an effort to annul the investment plans in Erimitis. This is the latest in a series of legal actions over the last few years, some of which have not yet been resolved - leading to the project being halted for the time being. The Development Minister Adonis Giorgiadis has publicly assured the investors on a number of occasions that the obstructions will soon be removed and the project will be able to continue.
The appeal from the two Corfu organisations is requesting the revocation and annulment of the following:
1. The Presidential Decree of 12-11-2013 "Approval for the Special Land Development Plan for the public property 'Kassiopi Corfu' in Erimitis".
2. The Collective Ministerial Decision of 22-4-2016 to approve land survey.
They are also requesting that the concession of the 438,228 sq.m. area of land in Kassiopi be revoked and that it be protected as a nature area.
The press release from the two organisations:
"We are appealing to the Commission with vested interest and justified trust as the new Commission has already clearly declared its policy to protect the environment. Furthermore, the project in Kassiopi, Corfu is one of the worst cases of damaging the environment.
We are assessing the recent policies of the new Commission as the new President Ursula von der Leyen has already made historic efforts for the (actual) protection of the environment. She referred to the "cost of apathy" regarding environmental protection at the extraordinary European Parliament plenary session on 15th January when, with Ursula von der Leyen and head of the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans attending, Parliament approved the critical plan for environmental protection and sustainable development in order to achieve the Green Deal.
We eagerly await the response of the Commission to our appeal as it will indicate how valid the new policies are - without legalisms and prevarication. Because there are huge financial interests in the investment in our area which, as we have forensically detailed in our appeal, will mean the destruction of the environment.
If we do not get a favourable response to our appeal, then we are determined to take it to the General Court of the European Union.
Dimitris Fatiras - President 'Erimitis Plus'
Vera Koronaki - President 'Society for the Protection of the Corfu Environment'
Amongst those attending were former Corfu Mayor Kostas Nikolouzos, who had always opposed the investment; DOPAP President Nikos Korakianitis; the Director of the Ionian Islands branch of the GNTO Kostas Tsoumanis; Regional Councillor and LAE member Stefanos Samouilis; Ekinisi leader and Central Corfu & Diapontia Islands Municipal Councillor Lefteris Markatis; North Corfu Municipal Councillors Theodoros Mavronas and Socrates Trifonas as well as several former local authority representatives, representatives from various organisations and a lot of young people.
The meeting was also attended by the LAE national political party member Dimitris Stratoulis, who is in Corfu to present his book.
Mr. Stratoulis spoke briefly with the 'Erimitis Plus' President Dimitris Fatiras expressing his support and wishing the movement luck.
The movement against the privatisation of Erimitis seems to have gained strength and is continuing its efforts to prevent the NCH Capital investment. The two organisations are appealing to the European Commission in an effort to annul the investment plans in Erimitis. This is the latest in a series of legal actions over the last few years, some of which have not yet been resolved - leading to the project being halted for the time being. The Development Minister Adonis Giorgiadis has publicly assured the investors on a number of occasions that the obstructions will soon be removed and the project will be able to continue.
The appeal from the two Corfu organisations is requesting the revocation and annulment of the following:
1. The Presidential Decree of 12-11-2013 "Approval for the Special Land Development Plan for the public property 'Kassiopi Corfu' in Erimitis".
2. The Collective Ministerial Decision of 22-4-2016 to approve land survey.
They are also requesting that the concession of the 438,228 sq.m. area of land in Kassiopi be revoked and that it be protected as a nature area.
The press release from the two organisations:
"We are appealing to the Commission with vested interest and justified trust as the new Commission has already clearly declared its policy to protect the environment. Furthermore, the project in Kassiopi, Corfu is one of the worst cases of damaging the environment.
We are assessing the recent policies of the new Commission as the new President Ursula von der Leyen has already made historic efforts for the (actual) protection of the environment. She referred to the "cost of apathy" regarding environmental protection at the extraordinary European Parliament plenary session on 15th January when, with Ursula von der Leyen and head of the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans attending, Parliament approved the critical plan for environmental protection and sustainable development in order to achieve the Green Deal.
We eagerly await the response of the Commission to our appeal as it will indicate how valid the new policies are - without legalisms and prevarication. Because there are huge financial interests in the investment in our area which, as we have forensically detailed in our appeal, will mean the destruction of the environment.
If we do not get a favourable response to our appeal, then we are determined to take it to the General Court of the European Union.
Dimitris Fatiras - President 'Erimitis Plus'
Vera Koronaki - President 'Society for the Protection of the Corfu Environment'
