Pressure to speed up project implementation and fund absorption

The progress of the ESPA programme implementation in the Ionian Islands Region and the absorption of European funds were at the centre of a meeting held on Tuesday at the headquarters of the regional authority.

The meeting was attended by the Governor of the Ionian Islands, Yiannis Trepeklis, Eleni Banava, representing the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission (DG REGIO), the Head of the Coordination Unit of the Special Coordination Service for Regional Programmes of the ESPA General Secretariat, Panagiotis Barlampas, as well as representatives of municipalities, public bodies, and administrative officials.

According to the discussions, priority is being given to accelerating procedures for projects financed through the ESPA programme, as delays in implementation could lead to the loss of available funding. Particular reference was made to the difficulties faced by island projects due to licensing requirements and lengthy administrative procedures.

The main sectors targeted by the interventions include water supply and water resource management projects, social housing, energy-efficiency upgrades, school infrastructure, civil protection, and social initiatives aimed at tackling child poverty.

During the meeting, it was noted that a revision of the regional ESPA programme for the Ionian Islands has been approved, with the aim of strengthening funding in sectors such as water supply and social housing. The need to reinforce civil protection on the islands was also discussed, due to increasing demands linked to the climate crisis.

The regional authority called on all involved stakeholders to accelerate the preparation of studies and projects in order to ensure the effective utilisation of available European funds.

GIORGOS KATSAITIS