Environment Ministry

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Wednesday that she decided to nominate several Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) representatives for the three vacant portfolios following the withdrawal of this party from the Government in August.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced on Wednesday that she decided to nominate several Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) representatives for the three vacant portfolios following the withdrawal of this party from the Government in August. Gratiela Gavrilescu was proposed to take over the Environment Ministry and the Deputy Prime Minister office.

The Environment Ministry will be ready to sign an agreement with the Greek Technical Chamber (TEE) within the month for a study into the reconstruction of the fire-ravaged east Attica town of Mati.

The Environment Ministry aims to review plans for waste management in Attica and at the national level, Kathimerini understands, though certain critical projects - such as the extension of the capital's main landfill - are to continue as scheduled.

The new plans will be drafted on the basis of proposals by the Attica regional council, which is expected to convene in due course.

Environment Ministry inspectors have sent a letter to Minister Kostis Hatzidakis to complain about being left out of a revamp of state monitoring agencies by the recently elected government.

Nearly a year after disastrous wildfires ravaged eastern Attica, killing 103 people, Greek authorities have drafted a plan aimed at curbing the unchecked construction in the area that allowed the blazes to spread so quickly and protecting coastal settlements.

Relations between the government and the operator of Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) could reach breaking point just weeks before the general election as an informal meeting between OLP and members of the Port Planning and Development Commission last Friday not only failed to resolve the problems for the implementation of Cosco's investment but probably generated new ones too.

The Environment Ministry launched on Thursday the 2nd edition of the Rabla programme for household appliances, a scrapping programme for which the Government has earmarked 40 million lei this year, twice compared to last year, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila stated.

People who suffered property damage during last year's deadly fires in eastern Attica staged a rally outside the Environment Ministry on Thursday, protesting what they described as the state's indifference to their plight. [Pantelis Saitas/ANA-MPA] 

A group of residents from Mati, a coastal town in eastern Attica that was completely destroyed in a deadly fire last summer, gathered outside the Environment Ministry on Thursday to protest the delays in the restoration of the damages.