Important Meetings in Megalopolis and Debate on the Post-Lignite Era

The Cities Network SUSTAINABLE CITY, through the Memorandum of Cooperation signed with the Municipality of Megalopolis, with the aim of promoting planning for the Post-Lignite Era, submitted a request for technical assistance to the Special Secretariat of the Platform of the European Union for regions in transition, which was approved.
 
As part of this approved support, experts from DG Energy visited the region on 18th and 19th February 2020, during which there was extensive consultation and an important exchange of views with authorities, citizens and stakeholders.

The experts together with the executives of SUSTAINABLE CITY visited and chatted with representatives of LIGNITE MEGALOPOLIS S.A. and TELEHEATING. A meeting was then held with the Regional Governor of Peloponnese, Mr. Nikas, while there was a discussion with the Municipal Council of Megalopolis, with representatives of the Commercial Association and Professional Bodies of the region, with the President of the Chamber Arcadia, Mr. Troupis, as well as with the Vice-Rector of the University of Peloponnese, Mr. Letouras, with the aim of having a comprehensive discussion and information and recording all the proposals that exist.
 
Meetings in Athens on February 20th 2020 were also important, with senior ppc executives, as well as with officials of the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Director of the Deputy Minister's Office, Mr. Thomas.
 
VIOSIGI POLI, in collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens and the Institute of Regional Development of Panteion University, has carried out an initial design, aiming at absorbing negative vibrations for workers and local population and diversification of productive activities in areas promoting sustainable economic activities. This design is based on an initial consultation with local stakeholders and will form the basis for finalising the design, with the active participation of the Municipality of Megalopolis and the guidance of the experts of the European Union.
 
With the presence for the first time of DG Energy representatives in the region, which launched the cooperation and important dialogue developed, as well as the proposals submitted, we have essentially entered a new phase of further processing of the overall Plan for the Post-Lignite period. It should be noted that the value of the whole effort is reinforced by the fact that it is supported and recorded by the European Union which will have the final say in the allocation and type of funding.

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