Dedeağaç to host European Committee of the Regions environment meeting next June
Dedeağaç (Alexandroupoli) will host a meeting of the European Committee of the Regions' Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) next June, following a unanimous decision by committee members.
The meeting will bring together representatives from EU member states and will take place just days before the start of Greece's presidency of the European Union, according to the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
The main theme of the meeting will be “The circular economy as a driver of development for sustainability, prosperity, cohesion and resilience in Europe's border regions.”
The initiative was presented by Theodoros Markopoulos, Deputy Regional Governor of the Kavala Regional Unit and a member of the ENVE commission.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND BORDER REGIONS
Markopoulos highlighted the particular characteristics of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and the region's decision to make the circular economy one of its development priorities under its Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3).
The presentation also identified resilience and water management, climate change and biodiversity as key priorities for the region.
Particular attention was given to Eastern Macedonia and Thrace's position as a border region. Markopoulos noted that the region's borders are simultaneously national and European borders and stressed the need to reduce the distance between EU institutions and local communities.
The meeting is expected to be accompanied by visits to the Evros Delta and Dadia, as well as to Thasos for historical and cultural activities.
REGION WELCOMES ENVE MEETING
Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis welcomed the decision to hold the meeting in the region.
Topsidis said hosting the ENVE meeting would be important not only for Greece and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace but also because of the issues on the committee's agenda.
He said the initiative formed part of his administration's broader effort to strengthen the region's engagement with European developments and increase its visibility at the European level.
The meeting will place the environmental and development challenges of Europe's border regions at the centre of discussions, with the circular economy, water management, climate change and biodiversity among the issues expected to feature prominently.
