With representatives of institutional bodies but also with representatives of the rural bodies of Thessaly he meets today the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, at the Maximos Palace.

During his introduction, the prime minister mentioned in the Master Planpresented to him a few days ago, by the Dutch company “HVA International” for the flood protection of Thessaly.

“I would like today’s meeting to be the first opportunity to present the conclusions of this study”, said Mr. Mitsotakis. As the plan of the Dutch experts pointed out “exceeds 400 pages and is the first holistic attempt to manage the problem of Thessaly’s water resources” adding that, among other things “includes how water resources will be holistically managed, the impact it will have on agricultural production.”

As Mr. Mitsotakis said “for the master plan they worked over 40 scientists from 8 specialties. They spent over 15,000 hours to x-ray the affected areas and suggest optimal solutions. This work was done in the field, not in the office.” he said.

He also pointed out that it would be a project wish to agree that the master plan “It’s a road map we can agree on, to turn a major disaster of Daniel into an opportunity to fundamentally restructure how we deal with these issues.”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis also mentioned that “we didn’t have to wait for Daniel to realize that Thessaly’s water resources were running out. But this does not mean that tomorrow we have to abandon cotton – because I also saw the statements of the regional governor of Thessaly – and go to structural interventions in agricultural production and it is unfair to highlight this dimension”.

“However, we must take measures so that the damage done by the lack of water resources after years is irreversible” concluded the prime minister who emphasized to his interlocutors that “the hard work now begins.”

The speech continues the Regional Governor of Thessaly Dimitris Kouretas who pointed out that “we want to contribute to this joint effort with documentation and work a lot in the next period”.

“From what I have seen and discussed, I believe that 90% of things are common”added Mr. Kouretas.

As said, today’s meeting is the first of many that will follow for the final formulation of the plan for Thessaly.

They took part in the meeting on behalf of the government, the Minister of Infrastructure Christos Staikourasthe Minister of Rural Development and Food Lefteris Avgenakisthe Ministers of State Stavros Papastavrou and Akis Skertsosthe Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Nikos Tahiaosthe Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Christos Triandopoulosthe Deputy Minister in addition to the Prime Minister Yannis Bratakos and the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Government Representative, Pavlos Marinakis.

The institutional bodies of Thessaly participated the Regional Governor of Thessaly Dimitris Kouretasthe Mayor of Agia Antonis Goundarasthe Mayor of Almyros Dimitris Eseridisthe Mayor of Argithea Andreas Stergiouthe Mayor of Volos Achilles Beosthe Mayor of Elassonas Nikos Gatsasthe Mayor of Zagora-Mouresi Kostas Karageorgiouthe Mayor of Meteora Lefteris Avramopoulosthe Mayor of Karditsa Vasilis TsiakosMayor Killeller Thanasis Nasiakopoulosthe Mayor of Larissa Thanasis Mamakosthe Mayor of Plastira Panagiotis Nanosthe Mayor of Mouzaki Theofanis Stathisthe Mayor of South Pelion Michalis MitzikosMayor Palamas Socrates Daskalopoulosthe Mayor of Pylis Kostas Maravasthe Mayor Riga Feraiu Dimitris Nasikasthe Mayor of Sofadon Demosthenes Katsisthe Mayor of Tempo George Manolisthe Mayor of Trikkaia Nikos Sakkasthe Mayor of Tyrnavos Stelios Tsikritsisthe Mayor Farkadonas Spyros Agantisthe Mayor of Farsalon Makis Eskioglouthe President of TOEB Tauropos Thanasis Markinosthe President of the Chamber of Trikala Vassilis Giagiakosthe President of the Chamber of Larissa Sotiris Giannakopoulosthe Secretary of the Chamber of Magnesia Vassilis Zakhilas and the Entrepreneurship and Development Manager of the Karditsa Chamber, Kostas Stergoulis.

From the HVA company, the CEO took part, Miltos Gouzouris.

Here is the Prime Minister’s full statement at the start of the meeting:

“Good day, Mr. Regional Governor, Mr. Mayors. Welcome to Megaros Maximos for today’s – I would say, long-awaited – meeting and presentation of the master plan which, as you know, has been drawn up by the Dutch company HVA and will be presented by the Managing Director, Miltos Gouzouris.

A master plan which exceeds 400 pages and which I would say is perhaps the first holistic attempt to manage the water resources problem of Thessaly and which also touches on a number of important areas, such as need for a more comprehensive planning of infrastructure projects in Thessalythe way in which the holistic management of water resources will be done, the effects that all this will obviously have on agricultural production and the primary sector.

I want to emphasize that more than 40 scientists worked to compile this master plan, from eight different specialties: hydraulic engineers, mechanical engineers, surveyors, agronomists, economists. They spent more than 15 thousand hours to “radiate” the affected areas and propose optimal solutions.

Besides, you know very well that this is a work done in the fieldis not a job done in an office, and I think almost all of you have had some contact with Milto and his staff.

I would like today’s meeting to be the first opportunity to present to the institutional bodies of Thessaly of the conclusions of this study. A study which should be seen through the prism of the scientific character that governs it. It’s not, obviously, a definitive one, but I think it gives very clear directions.

And it would be nice if we could actually agree – from the moment the study will also receive the relevant processing by the Ministries – that it is indeed a road map that we can agree on, so that we can have the best possible cooperation between the government, the self-government B’ and A’ degree and all local bodies involved in these issues. So that we can actually make a drastic intervention in the problems of Thessaly and turn what was a great disaster for Thessaly into an opportunity to substantially restructure the way we deal with these issues.

I would like to refer to the dimension given by the study on the issue of underground water resources of Thessaly. We didn’t have to wait for “Daniel” to realize the fact that Thessaly’s water resources are running out.

This does not mean in any case – because I also saw the statements of Mr. District Governor – that tomorrow we must abandon cotton and go to drastic interventions to restructure crops in Thessaly. The study does not suggest such a thing either and it would be very unfair of all this analytical work that has been done to focus our attention only on this dimension.

So, I make it clear from the beginning that no such question arises. On the other, we should all take our responsibilities -medium-term, long-term-, not to find ourselves in an unpleasant or tragic situation some years from now -10, 15, 20, we don’t know, nor can scientists tell us – the damage that will have been done to Thessaly by depletion of underground water resources to be irreversible. In this we all have a responsibility to position ourselves with absolute clarity.

I stop here. I would like to organize the discussion as follows: Miltos will make the presentation and then I will first give the floor to the Regional Governor and the Mayors who want to be appointed. As you can see, we will have a difficulty if you are all placed, so I would like, if you feel that you have been covered by what has been said, to manage our time as rationally as possible. And of course let me say from the beginning that this is the first of many other meetings we will have, as the hard work I would say now begins”.