The Minister of Justice and Public Order, Mr. Kostas Fytiris and the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Environment, Mr. Christos Senekis, discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two ministries in areas of mutual interest. The meeting, which was of a ceremonial nature, took place today at the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, on the occasion of Mr. Senekis’s recent assumption of office.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Justice, the meeting also served as an opportunity to exchange views and examine, at the political leadership level, the existing cooperation between the two ministries, as well as the potential for further leveraging synergies in areas where their responsibilities overlap, such as civil protection, the environment, security, animal welfare, and crisis management.
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“In this context, issues were discussed regarding the further strengthening of the operational readiness of the relevant agencies for the prevention and response to wildfires, as well as the use of modern technological tools and other equipment for the timely detection of incidents and the more effective coordination of available resources. This funding is part of the recent decision by the Council of Ministers to implement Phase B of the Holistic Surveillance System, which provides for investments totaling approximately €25.5 million over a three-year period to upgrade the operational capabilities of the relevant agencies with modern equipment, technological resources, and additional personnel.”
The two ministers also discussed opportunities to promote joint training and professional development initiatives for the personnel of their respective agencies, with the aim of developing a shared operational understanding and enabling a faster response to emergency situations.
They also discussed issues related to coastal surveillance for the management of marine pollution incidents, the protection of the marine environment, developments in the Gulf of Vasilikos, maritime spatial planning, and measures to protect sensitive marine areas.
As noted, special mention was made of the effective cooperation among government agencies during the management of the recent foot-and-mouth disease crisis. The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Justice and Public Order and its agencies for their assistance in implementing measures to limit the spread of the diseaseand protect livestock production.
As for the Green Line, ways to further strengthen controls to combat illegal activities were examined, including the trafficking of plant protection products, veterinary medicines, and animals.
Discussions also focused on issues related to animal welfare and the enforcement of relevant legislation. The two ministers explored ways to strengthen inspections and cooperation between the police, local government authorities, and the relevant government agencies.
Finally, the two ministers expressed finally, their intention to continue coordination at both the political leadership and operational levels, with the aim of further leveraging existing synergies in areas of mutual interest.
