The President of the Environment Committee of the Parliament and Member of Parliament for Ilia, ND, Dr. Dionysia – Theodora  Avgerinopoulou, congratulated the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF) and the local government, for the designation of our country being ranked second in the world in Blue Flags, pointing out that we are an example for the Mediterranean. In her address, Ms. Avgerinopoulou referred to the initiatives undertaken by the Government involving the reduction of single-use plastics, the  confrontation of coastal erosion and protection of Natura sites, expressing the Environment Committee’s full support for this important institution. Ms Avgerinopoulou said: “The “Blue Flag” is a global symbol of coastal quality, through which, on the one hand, the beaches of our country are promoted for tourism and, on the other hand, the sustainable management of the complex  ecosystems of our coasts is promoted in the most direct and effective way, while the conditions for the safety and health of beach attenders are ensured, as well as environmental education and information“.

Finally, she expressed her conviction that we can do even better and create the conditions for all our visited beaches to be awarded the Blue Flag.

Below is the full text of her address:
“Dear representatives of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature,
Honorable representatives of the environmental and tourism sector,
“The Greek Environmental Protection Agency, the Environmental Protection and Tourism Association, and the local
authorities,
friends:
On behalf of the Special Standing Committee on the Environment of the Parliament, I welcome this year’s event to announce the “Blue Flag” award winners, which is indeed an anniversary event, as it marks 35 years of implementation, and I congratulate you for your long term and significant work. The Environment Committee and the Subcommittee on Water Resources of the Parliament have long supported this important international programme, which has now become an international institution and which contributes to the
protection of both the marine environment and the public health and safety of beach attenders, while enhancing the tourism development of the awarded areas. It is also in line with all the actions of the Environment Commission which aim to fulfil the UN’s Global Sustainability Goal, number 14 for the protection of the seas, as well as the country’s environmental commitments under international, European and national law.

At the same time, they complement the efforts of both the Parliamentary Committee and the Government, as well as the Prime Minister  himself, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, for the protection of the marine areas of NATURA 2000 and marine biodiversity, as well as the legislative initiatives for the drastic reduction of single-use plastics, but also to address the phenomenon of coastal erosion due to many factors, mainly the climate crisis. The “Blue Flag” is a global symbol of coastal quality, which is linked to the quality of bathing water in thousands of beaches, marinas and related tourist destinations, through which, on the one hand, the beaches of our country are promoted for tourism and, on the other hand, the sustainable management of the complex ecosystems of our coasts is promoted in the most direct and effective way, while the conditions for the safety and health of beach attenders are ensured, as well as environmental education and information.

For the visitor, a beach with a Blue Flag is a safe place for recreation,
for local authorities, it is a”trophy” that demonstrates effective management,
for the younger generations who have already grown up with the image of the “Blue Flag” on the nearest beach, as we have in Ilia, after 35 years of operation of the institution, this flag is an integral part of the image, the perception we have of our seas, it is a “part” of our holiday frame.
And that is how we want our beaches in Greece to continue to be.
We are proud of the fact that our country is always high in the global ranking in terms of awards for its coasts and has 14% of the total number of awarded coasts among the 48 countries participating in the Program.
We are an example for the Mediterranean.

However, we are confident that we can do even better and create the conditions for all our beaches to be awarded the Blue Flag. We need both to ensure the prevention of marine pollution from land and sea sources and to develop the necessary infrastructure. With the motto – a “Blue Flag” on every beach, I congratulate you once again!

Thank you!”