The Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Stavros Papastavrou, is participating today in the European Union Council of Environment Ministers, which is taking place in Luxembourg.
Upon arriving at the meeting, Mr. Papastavrou stated: “Today, at the Council of Environment Ministers in Luxembourg, we are discussing how to address the challenges of the climate crisis, strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, and prepare for the International Climate Conference, COP31, to be held in Antalya, Turkey.
Greece fully supports the statement by Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra condemning Turkey’s attempt to exclude the Republic of Cyprus from the informal preparatory processes for COP. The participation of all 27 Member States is both self-evident and non-negotiable. It’s all 27 or none.
We are also discussing water resilience at the Council today. For Greece, water is not a theoretical issue. It is a matter of security, development, and the protection of local communities. That is why, on Monday, we launched the National Water Strategy for public consultation for the first time. And yesterday we announced 10 projects for 9 islands. These projects will provide desalination plants and water supply networks. Water is the foundation of life, social cohesion, and economic development. Protecting it is our responsibility—a responsibility we owe to our citizens and to future generations.”