Mr. Secretary General, Ladies & Gentlemen,
1. I am happy to recognice many faces from the workshop in Crete last year. This time we meet on the premises of the American School of Classical Studies, which in partnership with the Greek Ministry of Culture will further “Revive the Ancient Agora of Athens”. The aim is to preserve and promote the cultural heritage and historic role of the Agora. This project is one of 50 that have been selected to receive financing through the EEA Grants for the current Financial Mechanism 2004 – 2009.
2. As discussed in the 2008 workshop, the EEA Financial Mechanisms aim to contribute to reduction of social and economic disparities. They will also enable the three EEA EFTA states Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate fully in the Internal Market. Still another objective is to strengthen relations between donors and beneficiary states.
Through the present EEA Financial Mechanism, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway make a total of 730 million euros available to the 12 countries that joined the EU and the EEA in 2004 and 2007, as well as to Greece, Portugal and Spain. For the 12 new member states there is also an additional Norwegian Financial Mechanism of 634 million euros. Norway therefore pays more than 97% of the three EEA EFTA states’ total contribution.
3. The EEA and Norway Grants are based on the values solidarity, opportunity and cooperation. To ensure that these values are translated into concrete activities and results, we make available close to 33 million euros for Greece. With a substantial and encouraging Greek state co-financing, the total is more than 60 million euros, allowing a higher number of projects to be approved.
Around a thousand activities are now ongoing in the other 14 beneficiary states, many of them in cooperation with entities from the donor states.
We look forward to see project implementation start also in the 15th state, Greece, as soon as possible.
4. Let me also recall that this is the third such financing scheme over the past fifteen years. The Creteaquarium in Iraklion; the Poseidon Forecast and Monitoring Systems of the Hellenic Center for Marine Research; the Technological Museum of Thessaloniki, are some outstanding examples of what has been achieved through these financial mechanisms.
5. Principal among the five priority project areas that govern the current financing period is preservation of the environment and sustainable development. The projects approved for this priority area range from the creation of an observatory to monitor pollution in the Thermaikos Gulf, to establishing desalination units in the islands of the South Aegean Sea.
Also, following the 2007 forest fires, restoration of the ecosystems in the devasted areas was added.
In preserving the European cultural heritage, I already mentioned reviving the Ancient Agora of Athens. Other projects range from the restoration and maintenance of the Byzantine Walls of Thessaloniki to the Hellenistic Agora and the Medival Fortifications of Kos island, to the restoration of the holy monastery of Kechrovouni in Tinos.
Human Resources Development projects include creating a comprehensive system for the social integration of immigrants, and the establishment of linguistic and cultural support for sensitive social groups.
In the Health and Childcare sector, the projects range from the Panhellenic Center to manage and prevent exploitation, abuse, neglect, trafficking and disapperance of minors, to integrated support and care services for poor families with children.
Finally, in Academic Research, the projects range from the development of an advanced system to early diagnosis of neurological diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinson, to establishing a virtual museum over a sensor web.
6. One important way of strengthening bilateral relations is through project partnerships. We are happy that nine projects in the current financing period will have the benefit of Norwegian partners. Among them are projects in agricultural use of waste water; reclamation and reuse of solid wastes in agriculture; traffic control system in Thessaloniki; rehabilitation of the nature and cultural heritage of Ancient Olympia; improvement of water supply through desalination units, some of them wind-powered; medical support of children with neurological disorders through use of advanced technology, and awareness raising and research activities on issues related to the management of natural resources.
7. In conclusion, we congratulate the Ministry of Economy and Finance for organising this seminar. At the same time I repeat the need for a speedy conclusion of the procedure that will allow the project promoters to begin implementation, and thus be able to conclude them in time.
I want our tax-payers’ money to be spent in a timely manner and with maximum effect. There is no time to lose, or some of the money may be lost. I therefore encourage project promoters to stay in contact with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and if necessary to put some pressure on them in order to accelerate the process as much as at all possible.
I wish project promoters, partners and Focal Point good luck with project implementation and I thank you for your attention.
Athens, September 24, 2009