A new proposal to transfer planning departments to the Cadastre is on the table, giving municipalities flexibility over whether to join a reform by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEN) that has been on hold for months.
On the one hand, the central government has passed a law providing for the mandatory transfer of municipal Building Services (YDOM) to the Cadastre. On the other, the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) is calling for the services’ transfer to the central body to be optional.
Meeting at the environment ministry today
In an effort to break the deadlock, KEDE is due to meet the political leadership of YPEN today.
The process began last week. To avoid a head-on clash between central government and local authorities, the two sides held a first meeting, agreeing to open a new round of discussions on the issue.
Some municipalities, however, say they see little room for negotiation, arguing that the “line” from Maximos Mansion is to push ahead with the plan as it stands, without substantial changes.
KEDE is categorically opposed to the reform and has threatened to challenge the measure before Greece’s Council of State. The prime minister announced it about 15 months ago, but it remains on paper to this day.
KEDE is entering the talks with the position that the transfer of YDOM should be optional, allowing municipalities with well-organised and adequately staffed services to retain them, while those unable or unwilling to run them could transfer them to the new body.
The Technical Chamber’s position and the region’s role
The president of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), George Stasinos, supports modernisation and the creation of a single body, such as the National Organisation for Cadastre and Building Control (EOKED). However, internal factions and regional sections of the chamber have voiced reservations, setting out specific conditions.
Nikos Milis, president of the Representative Assembly of the Technical Chamber of Greece and head of DISYM, said yesterday that the parties involved needed to reach agreement.
At a meeting with journalists, he said: “There are municipalities that want to transfer their planning departments now. Our proposal is to reach agreement and carry out the transfer at the level of prefectures or regional units, as was the case in the past.”
“The administrative machinery is in place, both at the level of the administration and at the Ministry of the Interior, to return to the previous system for running planning departments. The difference compared with then is that today we can make much greater use of technology,” Mr Milis said.