The Synod of the Presidents of Research Centers and Technological Organizations expresses its disagreement with the imminent subordination of the National Observatory of Athens (EAA) to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in a letter.

The Summit of Presidents of Research Centers and Technological Organizations, among others, in its letter emphasizes that “a network of collaborations and joint initiatives has already been established, many of which are of an iconic dimension, such that the detachment of one of its members will cripple it and significantly disrupt its operating mechanisms».

At the same time he points out that “Research Centers can only effectively perform their role towards the State and society in an academic environment that ensures the conditions for conducting independent and unaffected research”, while adding that “their inclusion in a purely operational framework negates their mission , dehydrates them and deprives them of the means, but also of the enthusiasm that distinguishes scientists in their quest for new knowledge».

Furthermore, among other things, he underlines that “the cooperation between Research Centers and Operational Agencies could alternatively be based on the creation of an advisory body, of the OASP type, for issues related to the climate crisis and the subsequent natural disasters, as indeed stipulated in article 41 of the Law. 4662/2020, which has not yet been activated. Therefore, there have already been legislative initiatives of the State, which can lead to the intended result, as long as they are activated”.

It also states that “in the spring of 2022, official meetings of at least some research bodies (e.g. EAA, ELKETHE) were held with the NSRP staff structure of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection (YKKPP), in which official actors of the ministry also participated. In the meetings, the possibilities that have the EC for cooperation and support of the Ministry, without any follow-up”, and adds that “a few months later there were contacts with Expertise France, which had undertaken to help with the organization of the YKKPP” as well as meetings with researchers dealing with with issues related to Civil Protection and defined by the Research Centers. However, he points out that “this initiative does not seem to have reached anywhere, at least to date»

Finally, he concludes that “the detachment of the National Observatory of Athens from this research ecosystem has nothing to offer the Greek State and society, on the contrary, it will seriously weaken the very important work that it can offer to our country”.