SYRIZA-PS calls for an immediate, pre-scheduled debate in Parliament, “on the catastrophic floods in Thessaly, the preparation of the state apparatus, dealing with immediate needs and planning for the next day for the recovery of the region”.

As stated in a relevant letter from the president of his parliamentary group SYRIZA-PS, Sokratis Famellou to the president of the Parliament, Con. Tasoula, the subject of the discussion will be (1) the immediate risks and problems facing the Region of Thessaly, especially in terms of public health, access to energy, drinking water, basic infrastructure, housing and feeding, rehabilitation basic social and economic functions, the planning for the next day and the recovery of the society and the economy of the Thessaly Region, but also (2) the identification of the deficits of the State, the reforms and the measures that must be implemented for the prevention and dealing with natural disasters linked to the climate crisis and especially floods.

Mr Famellos’ letter reads as follows:

“The country is experiencing an unprecedented and extensive disaster from the deadly floods. Thessaly has received a huge blow, with human losses, incalculable damage to critical infrastructures, tragic consequences for the local and national economy and all economic activities in the region, but also a direct problem of survival for the citizens of the region. However, the danger that emerges for public health and the social functioning of the wider region is now particularly critical.

Although there were timely forecasts from the National Meteorological Service and the National Observatory of Athens/meteo.gr about the extreme danger of rainfall in Thessaly, and the extent and intensity of the phenomenon, they seem to have been ignored as a result.

A significant lack of efficiency, adequacy, readiness and tools of civil protection was found, while significant coordination deficits were found, which confirms the criticism leveled at the government but also the need for a substantial reform of civil protection with the basic tools of planning and scientific knowledge and with the condition of staffing and technical tools.

Instead of these needs, the law on Civil Protection remains suspended, the government rejected in 2019 the proposal of SYRIZA-PS for the National Civil Protection Authority, the competent Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection remains without an organizational chart, the funds of the Recovery and Resilience Fund for civil protection remain unused, while according to reports, the country’s anti-flood projects are excluded from it.

For more than four years, her government New Republic it did not improve the resilience of society and the economy to the effects of the climate crisis.

Although the National Adaptation Strategy in Climate change approved in 2016, pending the completion of the Regional Adaptation Plans in all Regions and in the Region of Thessaly.

In 2018, the SYRIZA government, covering the multi-year delay of the previous governments, completed and sanctioned the first Flood Risk Plans in the country (Directive 2007/60/EC). From 2019 onwards, the ND government was indifferent, as a result, today, and while the 1st Review of the Plans should have already been completed on 31.12.2021, this is expected after the end of 2023 at best. But the Flood Risk Management Plans describe beyond the high risk areas, the consequences of flooding for each area, infrastructure projects and their priority. For this matter, another legal procedure has been initiated by the European Commission against Greece for the country’s non-compliance with European legislation.

It therefore emerges as a whole that the government, while aware of the risks that exist for the entire country, did not even complete the prescribed institutional steps to strengthen the resilience of Greek society and did not take the initiative of the necessary important further reforms.

The deadly floods in Thessaly, after this year’s devastating fires, show that the country has many deficits that, if not addressed, the effects of extreme events will multiply and be ever greater and ever more violent.

Based on the above data and given the seriousness and urgency of the situation that has developed, we request that a debate be held immediately before the order of the day in the Parliament (Article 143 of the Civil Code) on the one hand the immediate risks and problems faced by the Region of Thessaly, especially in the ,in terms of public health, access to energy, drinking water, basic infrastructure, housing and feeding, the restoration of basic social and economic functions, planning for the next day and the recovery of society and the economy of the Region of Thessaly, but and the identification of the State’s deficits, the reforms and the measures that must be implemented to prevent and deal with natural disasters linked to the climate crisis and in particular to floods”.