12.2.

2014

FINAL REPORT

on Fact Finding Mission to Greece from 18 to 20 September 2013, concerning waste management in Attica, Pe oponnese, !"esprotia and #orf$

Committee on Petitions

Members% #ar os &os' Ang$ o (t$rgai) *+PP, +S, ,ice-c"airman of t"e Petitions #ommittee, .eader of t"e de egation/ Gera d 01fner *Greens2 +FA, 3+/ Marino 4a dini *S53, 67/ Accompan8ing Members% #"r8sso$ a Pa iade i *S53, G7, ,ice-c"airman of t"e Petitions #ommittee, e9
officio/

:i;o aos Sa a<ra;os *A.3+, G7, e9 officio/ :i;o aos #"o$ntis *G=+2:G., G7, e9 officio/

I. Introduction !"e decision of t"e #ommittee to <isit Greece was based on a n$mber of petitions recei<ed from Gree; citi)ens, indicating serio$s concerns abo$t waste management faci ities in <ario$s parts of t"e co$ntr8. !"e #ommittee was and is aware t"at s$c" iss$es concern t"e entire Gree; territor8 in one wa8 or anot"er, and t"is can be attrib$ted part 8 to t"e inabi it8 of nationa a$t"orities to f$ 8 imp ement ega ob igations based $pon += en<ironmenta aw w"ic" "as t"e ob>ecti<e of preser<ing t"e en<ironment and protecting citi)ens? "ea t", b$t part 8 a so to t"e wa8 t"at waste management faci ities, and in partic$ ar andfi s - w"ic" sad 8 remain t"e <irt$a 8 so e wa8 of disposing of waste in Greece - were constr$cted and operated in Greece. (n ot"er words t"e si)e of t"e c$rrent prob ems faced b8 citi)ens and po itica a$t"orities deri<e from ate imp ementation on t"e one "and, and t"e "istorica egac8 on t"e ot"er. @n 8 in t"e ast few 8ears "as t"ere been a rea effort to confront s$c" iss$es and t"erefore in t"e r$s" to catc" $p it is apparent t"at f$rt"er prob ems emerge. !"is <isit was organised on t"e basis of petitions 00A82200A b8 Ma<ro$dis ,oridis and 0BA322011 b8 Constantinos Papadigenopo$ os on t"e andfi c$rrent 8 $nder constr$ction in Grammati;o *nort"-east Attica/, 0DA822008 b8 Panagiotis 4o$ras on Mega opo i, Arcadia *centra Pe oponnese/, 11B222010 b8 Georgios !o$ssas on en<ironmenta 8 damaging acti<ities in +rmionis *eastern Pe oponnese/ and 021222008 b8 Mr. (oannis Papadopo$ os on t"e andfi s in Car<o$nari !"esprotia, +pir$s and .ef;immi, #orf$ *nort"western Greece/. (t is important to p ace t"ings in perspecti<e and in conte9tE Greece is a co$ntr8 of a most 11 mi ion *10.81B.1DA/ in"abitants. According to t"e 2011 cens$s 1, appro9imate 8 3B F of t"e pop$ ation *3.800.000/ resides in t"e broader At"ens metropo itan region, prod$cing A000 tons of waste dai 8. Appro9imate 8 1 mi ion *1.110.000/ reside in metropo itan !"essa oni;i, t"e second argest cit8 in t"e nort" of t"e co$ntr8, and t"e remaining B,B mi ions are scattered $ne<en 8 in main and Greece and t"e is ands. !"e most dense 8 pop$ ated areas are s$b$rbs of At"ens, and t"e east dense 8 pop$ ated areas are t"ose of +pir$s in t"e nort"west *among w"ic" !"esprotia/. Gree; en<ironmenta egis ation and especia 8 egis ation on en<ironmenta impact assessment d$ring waste management is f$ 8 "armoni)ed wit" += egis ati<e te9ts. Framewor; directi<e 20082D82+# was transposed into nationa aw in 2012, w"i e a ot"er specia i)ed directi<es, s$c" on waste andfi s, pac;aging, incinerationE (PP# etc. are a so now f$ 8 transposed. According to officia statistica data, in 2011 Gree; residents prod$ced appro9. B,A mi ion tons of $rban waste, of w"ic" 18F was reco<ered *14,DF rec8c ed pac;aging, 2,8F composting of organic waste, 0,3F energ8 reco<er8/ and 82F was disposed of in andfi s *o$t of w"ic" 4,8F in i ega ones/. For t"e reco<er8 and disposa of $rban "o$se"o d waste t"ere are s8stems of so$rce separation of pac;aging for 82F of t"e pop$ ation and ABF of t"e m$nicipa ities, s$pported b8 24 centres for sorting of rec8c ab e materia s. (n t"e entire Gree; territor8 t"ere are 4 mec"anica bio ogica treatment p ants and AA andfi s, w"ic" are ser<ed b8 B4 Gaste !ransfer Stations. Git" regard to waste management, Greece is no stranger to += instit$tions and "as been $nder scr$tin8 for s$c" iss$es e<er since 1D88. !"e Co$ro$pitos case before t"e +$ropean #o$rt of &$stice in 20002 attracted media attention and created p$b ic sensation in Greece, not
1 2

"ttp%22www.statistics.gr2porta 2page2porta 2+SH+2PAG+-cens$s2011 #ase #-38A2DA +$ropean #ommission 2 7ep$b ic of Greece, (-0B004A. Co$ro$pitos is a andfi site ocated

east beca$se of t"e act$a iss$e, w"ic" was <er8 we ;nown to t"e Gree; and += a$t"orities since 1D88, b$t beca$se it was t"e first case e<er w"ere a member state was ca ed $pon to pa8 a considerab e pena t8 for non-comp iance wit" its ob igations and wit" t"e re ated >$dgment of t"e +#&. A f$rt"er mi estone >$dgment was t"at of @ctober 200B 3, w"ereb8 t"e #o$rt r$ ed t"at Greece was not ta;ing s$fficient meas$res to c ose down and re"abi itate i ega andfi s, of w"ic" t"ere were se<era "$ndred operating across t"e co$ntr8. +ig"t 8ears ater *Febr$ar8 2013/, in <iew of ins$fficient progress since t"e r$ ing, t"e #ommission is referring t"e case bac; to #o$rt4 and, in ine wit" estab is"ed po ic8, s$ggesting a dai 8 pena t8 pa8ment of A11D3 e$ros for eac" da8 after t"e second #o$rt r$ ing $nti Greece comp ies wit" t"e >$dgment and a $mp s$m ca c$ ated on t"e basis of AA8I e$ros per da8 for t"e period between t"e first >$dgment and t"e da8 of comp iance or t"e da8 of t"e second #o$rt r$ ing. According to t"e initia ca endar, a i ega andfi s s"o$ d "a<e been c osed and re"abi itated b8 t"e end of 2008. A etter of forma notice $nder artic e 2I0 of t"e !reat8 of t"e F$nctioning of t"e +$ropean =nion was sent in Apri 200D, reminding Greece of its ob igations. 6owe<er, according to t"e atest fig$res a<ai ab e to t"e #ommission, at east A8 i ega andfi s contin$e to operate in <io ation of += waste egis ation and 318 are sti in t"e process of being re"abi itated. !"e c os$re of i ega andfi s is being de a8ed b8 t"e ac; of a ternati<e waste treatment faci ities. !"e sit$ation ma8 become e<en worse since t"e F8 i andfi - <isited b8 t"e de egation, w"ic" recei<es D0 F of t"e waste generated in t"e At"ens region, is facing imminent sat$ration, and wi "a<e reac"ed f$ capacit8 b8 t"e end of 2014. !"e #ommission is t"erefore referring t"e case bac; to #o$rt and reJ$esting financia pena ties. !"e financia pena ties wi be red$ced e<er8 time andfi s are c osed and re"abi itated pro<ided new ones are not created. Since t"e 200B r$ ing, progress "as been made b8 Greece t"ro$g" t"e c os$re and re"abi itation of man8 i ega andfi s and t"e estab is"ment of a more or ess adeJ$ate waste management s8stem in certain areas. !"e ma>orit8 of t"ese pro>ects "a<e been co-f$nded b8 t"e +=B. 1I new andfi s and 23 Gaste !ransfer Stations are c$rrent 8 in constr$ction, w"i e 12 andfi s are being en arged. !"ere is notab e progress in t"e p anning proced$res for Gaste Processing Faci ities in a most a regions, w"ic" are e9pected to considerab 8 red$ce t"e <o $me of biodegradab e waste ending $p in andfi s. .atest fig$res gi<en b8 t"e Gree; Ministr8 of +n<ironment and # imate #"ange indicate t"at A1 i ega andfi s are sti in operation, BA i ega andfi s "a<e been re"abi itated *33D remaining, in A4 of w"ic" re"abi itation wor;s are in progress/. DBF of t"ese re"abi itation wor;s are sc"ed$ ed for f$nding b8 += str$ct$ra f$nds, and t"e n$mber of i ega andfi s is e9pected to f$rt"er diminis" in 2013 and 2014. Anot"er step to be ta;en in t"e immediate f$t$re is t"e amendment of t"e :ationa Gaste Management P an and of t"e :ationa P an for t"e Pre<ention of Gaste Prod$ction, in comp iance wit" 3irecti<e 20082D8, w"ic" wi s$bseJ$ent 8 ead to t"e amendment of 7egiona Gaste Management P ans. Progress "as
in #"ania, #rete. !"e Gree; a$t"orities "ad <io ated t"eir ob igation $nder += to c ose down t"e andfi wit"in a certain dead ine. Fo owing con<iction before t"e +#&, Greece did not comp 8 wit" t"e initia r$ ing, and b8 a s$bseJ$ent >$dgement t"e +#& r$ ed t"at Greece was to pa8 dai 8 pena ties $nti t"e da8 of f$ comp iance, w"ic" came in mid-2001. #ase #-B02203 +$ropean #ommission 2 7ep$b ic of Greece, not p$b is"ed *a<ai ab e on c$ria.e$ropa.e$/ Press re ease K+n<ironment% #ommission ta;es Greece bac; to #o$rt o<er i ega andfi s and as;s for finesL, +$ropean #ommission - (P2132143 2120222013 Pro>ect KS"$t down and re"abi itation of ocations of $ncontro ed waste disposa L, financed b8 t"e @perationa Programme K+n<ironment and S$stainab e 3e<e opment 200A-2013L. (t in<o <es 2B0 andfi s. !ota p$b ic b$dget 120m +$ros. #ontracting is at 20F of t"e tota b$dget. Spending *absorption/ 11,2FM

3 4

t"erefore occ$rred, efforts "a<e been made, b$t t"ere is sti a notab e and e9cessi<e re iance on andfi at t"e e9pense of ot"er options w"ic" appear rare 8 to "a<e been f$ 8 considered. II. The visit !"e petitions recei<ed b8 Gree; citi)ens refer to t"e non-comp iance b8 t"e Gree; a$t"orities wit" += waste disposa criteria in act$a andfi ocations and proced$res in connection wit" t"e pro>ected andfi site near Mega opo i in t"e Pe oponnese region. !"e p$rpose of t"e mission was to respond to t"e petitioners? concerns and to enab e t"e #ommittee to fo ow $p and <erif8 iss$es on w"ic" t"e Par iament "as de iberated on t"e basis of t"e report b8 Mr. #ar os Ang$ o (t$rgai), on be"a f of t"e Petitions #ommittee, on t"e app ication of t"e Gaste Management 3irecti<eI. Some of t"e petitioners "a<e a read8 attended meetings of t"e #ommittee and "a<e "ad t"e occasion to present t"eir <iews to t"e Members. !"e8 regard t"e estab is"ment of t"ese waste sites as an infringement to t"e pro<isions of #o$nci 3ecision 20032332+# estab is"ing criteria and proced$res for t"e acceptance of waste and andfi s p$rs$ant to Artic e 1I and Anne9 (( to 3irecti<e 1DDD2312+#. !"e petitioners are concerned t"at andfi s *in se<era areas s$c" as near Mega opo i, Grammati;o, Car<o$nari and on #orf$/ are moreo<er potentia 8 "a)ardo$s to t"e "ea t" of t"e oca pop$ ation, t"at t"e8 po $te t"e s$rro$nding waters and damage t"e en<ironment. !"e8 J$estion t"e basis on w"ic" t"e sites were c"osen and t"e practica <a idit8 of t"e en<ironmenta impact assessments w"ic" were cond$cted. !"e ob>ecti<e of t"e <isit was, t"erefore, to engage in f$rt"er disc$ssions wit" t"e interested parties wit" a <iew to ma;ing recommendations w"ic" co$ d s$bseJ$ent 8 be $sed to respond to t"e concerns of t"e petitioners. Git"in a period of t"ree da8s members of t"e de egation were ab e to "o d meetings in At"ens wit" a interested parties, bot" petitioners and representati<es of t"e state a$t"orities, and ma;e site <isits in 4 different parts of Greece *Attica, Pe oponnese, !"esprotia *+pir$s/, #orf$/ to B andfi sites and come into contact wit" oca m$nicipa a$t"orities and meet wit" petitioners and concerned residents in t"e respecti<e areas. !"e ogistica c"a enge was t"erefore $nderstandab 8 great and so were t"e aspirations d$e to time restraints. G"at is more, t"e present <isit was rea ised fo owing t"e cance ation of t"e same <isit, w"ic" "ad been sc"ed$ ed to ta;e p ace in Ma8 2013. !"$s bot" e9pectations and anticipation were "ig". !"e andfi s <isited form part of t"e regiona waste management p ans in Greece. !"e partic$ arit8 of t"is fact-finding <isit t"o$g" is t"e fact t"at eac" of t"ese andfi s is in a different stage 2 "as a different stat$s% Grammati;o is in constr$ctionE F8 i is f$ 8 operationa and "as been for t"e past fift8 8earsE Mega opo i is in p anningE Car<o$nari is f$ 8 operationa and commenced operation recent 8 *in 200D/E and fina 8 constr$ction at t"e .ef;immi andfi was conc $ded a 8ear ago, b$t it is sti not in operation. Day 1:Attica (Athens and Grammatiko) Grammati;o is a sma comm$nit8 near Marat"on, in nort"east Attica. (t "osts one of t"e t"ree integrated waste management faci ities inc $ded in t"e 7egiona Gaste Management P an for So id Gaste of t"e 7egion of Attica *t"e ot"er two being Ceratea in S+ Attica and F8 i in western Attica/. !"e compo$nd is p anned to inc $de a composting p ant for presorted organic waste, a processing p ant for mi9ed m$nicipa waste and a andfi .
I

7eport on t"e iss$es raised b8 petitioners in re ation to t"e app ication of t"e Gaste Management 3irecti<e and re ated iss$es in t"e Member States of t"e +$ropean =nion, 7apporte$r #ar os &os' Ang$ o (t$rgai), @ctober 2011 *201122038*(:(//

A t"ree integrated waste management faci ities were sc"ed$ ed for f$nding b8 += str$ct$ra f$nds *financing period 2000-200I/. 3$e to de a8s or <ario$s ot"er "indrances, t"e constr$ction of t"e Ceratea andfi was cance ed. Grammati;o andfi is c$rrent 8 $nder constr$ction, a most a decade after its financing appro<a , and F8 i, w"ic" "as ser<ed as t"e on 8 ma>or andfi for At"ens d$ring t"e ast fift8 8ears, is t"e on 8 andfi pro>ect t"at was comp eted - "a<ing been s$bstantia 8 $pgraded, and t"$s constit$tes t"e on 8 awf$ waste disposa site in Attica. So$rce- separation pro>ects are c$rrent 8 being imp emented in a t"e m$nicipa ities in t"e 7egion of Attica, w"ic" are ser<iced b8 4 7ec8c ab e Materia s? Separation Faci ities, t"e Ano .iosia Mec"anica 7ec8c ing and #omposting P ant, t"e F8 i andfi and a networ; of Gaste !ransport Stations. Appro9. 3,8 mio. in"abitants in Attica prod$ce ann$a 8 2.100.000 tons of m$nicipa waste, o$t of w"ic" 200.000 tons are processed b8 t"e 7ec8c ab e Materia s? P ants, 2I0.000 b8 t"e Mec"anica 7ec8c ing and #omposting P ant, and circa 1.800.000 tons of resid$e and waste per 8ear are "eaded for t"e F8 i andfi . A !"is means practica 8 t"at appro9. A.000 tons of waste end $p at t"e F8 i andfi e<er8 da8, an enormo$s amo$nt b8 an8 possib e ca c$ ation, w"ic" wi mat"ematica 8 ead to t"e e9"a$stion of t"e andfi ?s capacit8 in t"e immediate f$t$re. !"e constr$ction of t"e Grammati;o compo$nd t"$s aims at a e<iating t"e pressing prob em of t"e waste remaining for disposa in andfi s in Attica. Appro<ed for constr$ction in 2003, its +(A report was iss$ed in t"e same 8ear and t"e financing for its rea isation was earmar;ed from t"e #o"esion f$nd. 6owe<er, constr$ction was de a8ed and commenced on 8 in 3ecember 200D, d$e to ega proceedings initiated b8 oca s before t"e Gree; #o$nci of State and comp aints fi ed at t"e +$ropean #ommission and +$ropean Par iament. Since t"en n$mero$s in>$nction app ications "a<e been odged b8 oca residents against t"e constr$ction of t"e andfi , based on a <ariet8 of ega and fact$a gro$nds. A app ications before e<er8 instance were re>ected. Fo owing comp aints b8 residents, t"e +n<ironmenta (nspectors performed an in sit$ inspection of t"e constr$ction site in Grammati;o. !"e report of t"e <isit conc $des t"at t"e +(A assessment on t"e ?Geo ogica -68drogeo ogica ? c"aracteristics of t"e area were based so e 8 on bib iograp"ica researc" of t"e wider eastern Attica region and not on s$fficient data from fie d researc" on t"e site itse f. @n t"e basis of an independent st$d8 cond$cted b8 t"e :ationa and Capodistrian =ni<ersit8 of At"ens, it was fo$nd t"at t"e +(A was based on erroneo$s data abo$t t"e geo ogica and "8drogeo ogica c"aracteristics of t"e region necessar8 to ens$re territoria safet82sec$rit8. (n addition ins$fficient acco$nt was ta;en of t"e p"reatic aJ$ifer. !"erefore, it is necessar8 according to t"e report to "a<e f$rt"er in<estigation into t"e c"aracteristics of t"e region in order to safeg$ard t"e pro>ect and ens$re t"e protection of t"e en<ironment. (n addition t"e report raised t"e iss$e of ins$fficient protection of t"e streams passing t"ro$g" t"e area. !"ere is ins$fficient data gi<en to t"e inspectors t"at t"ere "a<e been estab is"ed ocations for t"e deposition of s$rp $s of inappropriate2$ns$itab e prod$cts from t"e e9ca<ation of t"e pro>ect. A so, t"e report stresses t"e iss$e of c"ange of ocation of t"e =nit for iJ$id waste processing to t"e +astern s"ore of t"e main stream to a ocation destined for so id waste processing and w"et"er a new +(A s"o$ d be cond$cted in t"is respect. 4ased on t"ose findings an in>$nction was fi ed in Febr$ar8 2012 to stop t"e wor;s in progress, b$t was a so re>ected in Ma8 2012. Gor;s in t"e andfi are e9pected to be comp eted b8 3ecember 2013, and t"e Gaste Processing P ant of t"e compo$nd wi be constr$cted <ia a PPPE a re e<ant ca for tenders is a read8 open. !"e atter proced$re was
A

Petitioners a so offered additiona data on <o $mes and statistica data.

a so contested before t"e #o$nci of State b$t t"e app ication was once again re>ected. !"e members of t"e de egation arri<ed in At"ens ate in t"e e<ening of September 1A t". !"e first da8 of t"e <isit *Gednesda8, September 18t"/, was di<ided in two% t"e morning was dedicated to meetings wit" t"e parties in<o <ed *petitioners and go<ernment officia s, inc $ding t"e Minister responsib e/, w"ereas t"e sc"ed$ e of t"e afternoon in<o <ed a site <isit to t"e constr$ction in Grammati;o. !"e first meeting of t"e <isit too; p ace in t"e premises of t"e office of t"e +$ropean Par iament in At"ens, in presence of t"e petitioners from Attica *Mr. ,oridis, c$rrent 8 a member of t"e Gree; Par iament, Mr. Papadigenopo$ os/ and of Mr. (oannis Papadopo$ os. A so present were Mr. A. Ce epert)is, Professor of Geoc"emistr8 and +n<ironmenta Geoc"emistr8 at t"e At"ens Po 8tec"nica =ni<ersit8 and Mr. 3. 3amas;os, a representati<e of t"e (nitiati<e for Agreement on Gaste Management N P7@SH:A!. (n t"eir brief presentations, a t"e petitioners reiterated and e aborated on t"e gro$nds for t"eir petitions and ga<e s"ort fo ow-$ps on an8 e<ent$a e<o $tions since t"eir petitions were fi ed. Mr ,oridis *00A82200A/ c aimed t"at t"e Ministeria 3ecision of 2003 appro<ing t"e constr$ction of t"e Grammati;o compo$nd inc $ded t"ree proced$ra <io ations% first 8, a condition on a percentage of resid$a waste "ad to be met, second 8, t"e a$t"orities "a<e not presented an8 concrete time frame for t"e comp etion of wor;s and t"ird 8 t"at fi<e different stat$tor8 dead ines "ad not been comp ied wit". (n "is opinion, Grammati;o is an area t"at is en<ironmenta 8 sensiti<e and is a forest area, in w"ic" t"ere "ad been a arge fire, and w"ic" in t$rn s"o$ d "a<e ed to t"e reassessment on t"e en<ironmenta impact on t"e area. 6e $rged t"e Petitions? #ommittee to inform t"e +$ropean #ommission abo$t t"ese <io ations and to ens$re t"at t"e 7egiona Gaste Management P an is re<ised according to t"e act$a sit$ation in t"e area. Mr. Papadigenopo$ os *0BA322011/ c aimed t"at t"ere is more t"an one andfi site in Greece w"ic" is prob ematic, and offered t"e andfi s of Samos and of Car<o$nari as b atant e9amp es. !"ere a wa8s en<ironmenta iss$es in<o <ed in t"ese cases. (n t"e present case of Grammati;o, t"e +(A st$d8 made abso $te 8 no difference, w"ereas scientists c aim t"at t"ere are water we s rig"t be ow t"e s$rface. G"at "e finds s$rprising is t"at no test dri ing e<er too; p ace to see t"e J$a it8 and properties of t"e gro$nds be ow, and an8 efforts to t"at b8 oca officia s were soon gi<en $p as t"e8 were not a$t"orised. Geo ogica st$dies "a<e s"own t"at t"e $ndergro$nd consists main 8 of water-permeab e roc;s, w"ic" means t"at $ndergro$nd waters co$ d be po $ted b8 eac"ate infi trations. G"at is more, t"ere are t"ree streams in t"e area, w"ic" t"e +(A simp 8 ignored. !"is means in practice t"at a to9ic iJ$ids wi end $p in t"e sea, w"ic" ies wit"in B00m from t"e andfi site. Gree; co$rts ne<er ad>$dicated abo$t t"e s$bstance of t"e caseE a s$its, c aims and in>$nctions before Gree; and +$ropean instances were re>ected on gro$nds of admissibi it8. 6e conc $ded b8 sa8ing t"at t"is is an e9orbitant 8 e9pensi<e pro>ect. (n s$pport of t"e abo<e, Prof. Ce epert)is stressed t"e fo$r main scientific ob>ections against t"e constr$ction of t"e andfi in t"at site. First 8, t"e aJ$ifer is endangered d$e to permeab e $ndergro$nd roc;s, w"ic" co$ d a ow for eac"ate infi trations. Second 8, t"e area is "ig" 8 seismic, an e ement w"ic" was not ta;en into acco$nt in t"e +(A. !"ird 8, t"ere was no "8dra$ ic st$d8 abo$t t"e streams *I sma and 1 arge/ in t"e area, w"ic" wi most i;e 8 ser<e as drainage wa8s for rainwater and possib 8 eac"ates in t"e e<ent of a ea;. Fina 8, "e c aimed t"at d$ring t"e drafting of t"e initia +(A st$d8 t"ere was no recording of t"e initia en<ironmenta conditions, w"ic" is a <io ation of t"e nationa egis ation in force. Mr. 3amas;os too; t"e f oor and stressed t"at t"e +$ropean #ommission c"ooses to ignore e<ident errors emanating from doc$ments a read8 s$bmitted to t"em. (n "is opinion t"e

Grammati;o pro>ect entai s en<ironmenta crimes and arge-sca e economic scanda s and "e is a armed t"at t"e Ks"eer mass of waste wi c"o;e $sL. 6e a so presented recommendation 2022012 of t"e +$ropean #o$rt of A$ditors, according to w"ic" t"e dimensions of a #entra processing $nit for mi9ed waste m$st not be financed $n ess it is for t"e fraction of waste remaining in mi9ed sit$ation after t"e pro<en e9"a$stion of t"e priorities described c ear 8 in artic e 4 of t"e framewor; directi<e *D822008/. . (n "is <iew, incineration, disposa in andfi s and processing of mi9ed waste is a ast resort, and priorit8 s"o$ d be gi<en to separation of waste at t"e so$rce. As constr$ction of t"e compo$nd "as on 8 progressed to a rat"er sma e9tent *8F of t"e compo$nd, b$t a most 100F of t"e andfi ce /, t"ere is a egitimate concern, to w"ic" t"e a$t"orities "a<e signa 8 fai ed to respond, abo$t t"e J$antities t"at t"e entire andfi is to "o d. 6e c aims t"at in t"e case of Grammati;o t"e entire pro>ect is designed for 10 times more waste t"an t"e act$a needs, a fact w"ic" certain 8 raises J$estions. (mportant 8 as members obser<ed, it does not meet t"e condition of pro9imit8 to most areas of Attica. Specia roads are being constr$cted at great and $nnecessar8 cost to reac" t"e site w"ic" is far awa8 from an8 e9isting transport infrastr$ct$re. 3$ring t"is meeting t"ere was a significant inter<ention b8 Mr. 6ari aos Marmaro$, t"e "ead of t"e so ca ed KStr$gg e #ommitteeL of F8 i. (n a few words "e described t"e en<ironmenta sit$ation in F8 i as grim. 6e c aimed t"at t"e percentage of cancer cases is stri;ing 8 "ig" in t"at part of Attica and ser<ed t"e members of t"e de egation wit" proof t"at a t"is s$ffering is direct 8 in;ed to t"e en<ironmenta po $tion ca$sed b8 t"e F8 i andfi . 6e in<ited t"e de egation to <isit t"e andfi in F8 i and "a<e a first- "and oo; at t"e argest and most probab 8 t"e o dest andfi in Greece and t"e de<astation it "as bro$g"t abo$t to t"e area. !"e Members agreed to ma;e a owances so as to <isit F8 i d$ring t"e afternoon of t"e second da8. !"e ne9t meeting was sc"ed$ ed at t"e Ministr8 of +n<ironment and # imate #"ange, w"ere t"e Members were awaited b8 a arge de egation of state officia s *more t"an 20 persons/ in<o <ed in waste management at <ario$s posts. !"e meeting was c"aired b8 t"e Secretar8 Genera of t"e Ministr8, Ms. :adia Gianna;opo$ o$, w"o e9tended t"e f$ cooperation of t"e Ministr8 and of a t"e re e<ant nationa a$t"orities wit" t"e de egation of t"e +$ropean Par iament. !"e Secretar8 Genera e9pressed t"e wi ingness of t"e Gree; state a$t"orities to f$ 8 cooperate wit" t"e Petitions #ommittee and offer a information reJ$ired, bot" d$ring t"e meeting and after, b8 pro<iding t"e necessar8 materia s. S"e stressed t"at in eac" case t"at t"e p anning or t"e constr$ction of a ma>or waste management was >$dicia 8 c"a enged b8 concerned citi)ens, t"e state a$t"orities were <indicated in co$rt. S"e did indeed rea ise t"at citi)ens nowada8s are increasing 8 more sensiti<e to en<ironmenta iss$es, b$t went on to c arif8 t"at t"ere is no "idden agenda be"ind decisions for t"e constr$ction of waste management compo$nds. !"ere is a wa8s a ot of t"o$g"t and p anning t"at ead to s$c" decisions. 48 fo owing t"e estab is"ed proced$res and b8 introd$cing new ones, t"e Ministr8 aims to promote t"e s"ared responsibi it8 between t"e state, oca a$t"orities and t"e p$b ic in t"e constr$ction of infrastr$ct$re of s$c" ma>or importance. !"e ne9t spea;er, Mr. !o eris, t"e director of t"e a$t"orit8 responsib e for granting permits for waste management pro>ects at t"e Ministr8 of +n<ironment *+HP+/, informed t"e de egation t"at prior to t"e constr$ction of t"e faci it8 in Grammati;o t"ere was disc$ssion wit"in t"e ministr8 as we as wit" t"e p$b ic on t"e pinning of t"e ocations for t"e andfi s for appro9imate 8 1B 8ears, $nti in 2003 t"e re e<ant ministeria decision was adopted, indicating F8 i, Grammati;o and Ceratea as deposit ocations. !"e +(A report for Grammati;o was, "e maintained, compre"ensi<eE it was made a<ai ab e for p$b ic

cons$ tation and opinions were e9pressed b8 t"e Ministr8 of Agric$ t$re, t"e Ministr8 of #$ t$re and t"e oca societ8. !"e petitioners disagree, pointing o$t t"at t"e e9isting water streams were ignored b8 t"e +(A. !"e decision for t"e appro<a of en<ironmenta terms was appro<ed in 3ecember 2003 and was renewed in 200D. !"e proced$re fo owed for t"e drafting of t"e +(A report was moreo<er comp ete and in f$ comp iance, "e asserted, wit" t"e acJ$is comm$na$taire. !"is was a so t"e opinion of t"e Gree; #o$nci of State. A reco$rses to t"e #o$nci of State fai edE t"e co$rt e9amined t"e comp eteness of t"e +(A report, fo$nd it to be awf$ and constr$ction proceeded. :$mero$s ot"er proceedings "a<e been instit$ted before ordinar8 co$rts, b$t were so far a re>ected8. !"e insta ation is designed and it is being constr$cted, "e ass$red members, b8 app 8ing state of t"e art engineering proced$res and constr$ction specifications, according to t"e egis ation c$rrent 8 in force and to a r$ es app icab e to waste management faci ities, w"i st t"e ce $nder constr$ction is "8dra$ ica 8 ins$ ated. (n response to t"e a egations of potentia po $tion of $ndergro$nd waters, it is we - ;nown t"at Attica "as no $ndergro$nd waterco$rses, or at east none t"at are significant. !"at was a so t"e finding of t"e +(A report and t"is is t"e reason w"8 water is being transported into At"ens from as far as 300 ;m awa8. As to t"e a egations t"at t"e pinning of t"e ocation and t"e design are erroneo$s, Mr. !o eris said t"at t"is is an e9 ante estimation. (t appears t"at w"en >$dging e9 post t"ere seems to be no prob em% t"e en<ironmenta conditions app ied are strict and in comp iance wit" += egis ationE in order to ens$re t"e f$nding for s$c" a arge- sca e pro>ect, economic considerations were ta;en into acco$nt at t"e time t"at t"e pro>ect was appro<ed. Git" regard to t"e F8 i andfi , it is a read8 ;nown t"at t"ere are p$b ic "ea t" iss$es at t"e area. !"e modernised faci it8 was designed in a wa8 t"at does in fact meet t"e necessar8 conditions for its operation. (t is nonet"e ess one of t"e o dest ocations recei<ing tons of an8 t8pe of waste since t"e ate 1DB0s. Fo owing t"e e9pansion of t"e cit8 imits o<er t"e ast decades, t"e pinning of t"e ocation m$st be re-e<a $ated and specific st$dies s"o$ d be a$nc"ed in order to determine t"e origin of t"e po $tion and t"e s$bseJ$ent "ig" disease rate of t"e oca pop$ ation. Git" regard to ot"er a eged 8 Kprob ematicL andfi s in Greece, s$c" as Samos, .ef;immi and Caterini, Mr. !o eris stressed t"at +(As are not done centra 8, b$t on 8 oca 8, as t"ese are sma -sca e pro>ects. (n t"ese cases $s$a 8 prob ems emerge from s$bstandard constr$ction rat"er t"an errors in design. Fina 8, in response to t"e a egation t"at t"e +$ropean #ommission recei<es erroneo$s or mis eading information b8 t"e Gree; a$t"orities, t"is is J$ite impossib e in "is opinion, as a data is a<ai ab e and "as been made a<ai ab e to t"e #ommission in a transparent wa8, and co$rt cases were in fact ad>$dicated, finding t"e pro>ects to be awf$ . !"e f oor was s$bseJ$ent 8 gi<en to Mr. P. Mer;os, #"ief (nspector for t"e +n<ironment. !"e Grammati;o andfi area and t"e beac" were in<estigated and on t"e spot <isits were made in 2010 and 2011. +<en before t"e constr$ction of t"e faci it8, comp aints from citi)ens were being recei<ed at an a arming pace, especia 8 after oca rainfa s, w"ic" ed to t"e inf$sion of sea waters in t"e Grammati;o area wit" soi and detrit$s being was"ed down from t"e andfi site after constr$ction began, an irref$tab e proof of t"e e9istence of streams. !"e report t"at was drafted after t"is <isit is sti not fina ised, t"ere is mere 8 an interim report, as t"e two inspectors w"o participated in t"e <isit and inspection no onger ser<e in t"eir positions. According to t"e draft report, w"ic" was made a<ai ab e to t"e Petitions #ommittee
8

Petitioners and en<ironmenta inspectors indicated t"at t"e #o$nci of State foc$sed on proced$ra aspects in its >$dgements and did not assess t"e s$bstantia iss$es raised b8 t"e petitioners.

prior to t"e <isit, in t"e area of t"e Grammati;o andfi t"ere are arc"aeo ogica findings, fo$r geo ogica fa$ ts and si9 streams *one crossing t"e centre of t"e andfi ce /, t"e atter ending $p at t"e beac". !"ese were co<ered b8 b$ do)ers soon after constr$ction of t"e andfi ce began, b$t are c ear 8 <isib e in aeria p"otograp"s. G"at is more, t"e "8drogeo ogica c"aracteristics of t"e area were not ta;en into acco$nt. !"e +(A report was drafted in on 8 t"ree mont"s, w"ic" is an e9treme 8 s"ort period of time for s$c" a arge-sca e pro>ect. As to t"e e9istence of t"e streams, t"e (nspectors made concrete s$ggestions to protect t"e andfi ce from rain waters, b$t t"ese were not gi<en credit b8 t"e state a$t"orities. +9 officio members Ms. Pa iade i, Mr. Sa a<ra;os and Mr. #"o$ntis posed a series of J$estions wit" regard to t"e potentia infestation of t"e waters of t"e nearb8 Marat"on a;e *w"ic" is feeding t"e At"ens metropo itan area wit" drin;ing water/, w"et"er geo ogica and "8drogeo ogica st$dies and e9periments were imp emented in t"e frame of t"e +(A report and w"et"er t"e (nspector?s fina report on Grammati;o is e9pected to be de i<ered soon. (n response to t"ese J$estions t"e Genera 3irector for O$a it8 of .ife at t"e 7egion of Attica, Mr. +conomopo$ os, responded t"at Grammati;o is e9pected to recei<e m$nicipa waste on 8, w"ic" constit$tes on 8 a ow ris; to en<ironment. @ne s"o$ d ta;e acco$nt of t"e pop$ ation residing in Attica, w"ic" prior to constr$ction was ser<iced b8 i ega andfi s in ot"er *t"ree/ ocations, now c osed and re"abi itated. !"e present sanitar8 andfi area for resid$a waste t"at is c$rrent 8 $nder constr$ction is we ins$ ated and "as a faci it8 for processing organic waste, i.e. on 8 resid$a waste is to end $p in t"e andfi . !"e nearb8 Marat"on a;e wo$ d on 8 be endangered b8 an i ega andfi , s$c" as t"e one t"at pre<io$s 8 e9isted in Grammati;o, b$t at t"at time t"ere were no protests, w"ereas nowada8s peop e in t"e area are far more sensiti<e in en<ironmenta iss$es and fear t"e possibi it8 of po $tion of $ndergro$nd waters. As to t"e J$estion of w"et"er dri ing was performed to ascertain t"e geo ogica content and J$a ities of t"e $ndergro$nd, t"ese were indeed performed at fi<e monitoring ocations, w"ere no water was fo$nd. (t is tr$e t"at d$ring t"e p"ase of t"e +(A no dri ing was $nderta;en, b$t more t"an 30 were done d$ring constr$ction, and t"ese were impeded eac" time for s$perficia reasons of p$b ic order. :o water basin was fo$nd to e9ist at t"at area and s$rface waters are directed to ot"er ocations w"ere t"e8 are e9pected to concentrate. Mr. !o eris reiterated t"at t"e Marat"on a;e wi not be affected, as it does not ie wit"in t"e same "8dro ogica basin as t"e andfi site and t"ere is no $ndergro$nd connection between t"e two. 3espite of a t"e acc$sations, t"e state warm 8 s$pports t"is pro>ect, not on 8 beca$se of t"e $rgent need for waste disposa ocations, b$t a so beca$se it is t"e prod$ct of <er8 good wor; and st$d8, ;nowing t"at t"ere wo$ d be p$b ic protest against it, beca$se of t"e not-in-m8-bac;-8ard attit$de t"at accompanies waste management pro>ects. As to t"e comp eteness of t"e +(A report, it inc $des geo ogica , "8dra$ ic and design st$dies *not specia ised "owe<er/, inc $ding a so a st$d8 of t"e $ndergro$nd. G"en t"e a egations b8 Mr. Ce epert)is were initia 8 p$t forward, t"e Ministr8 as;ed for a written opinion b8 t"ree professors at t"e At"ens +ngineering =ni<ersit8, w"o c aimed t"at t"ere are no streams in t"e area and t"at t"e strictest standards on water basins are met in t"is pro>ect. +<en t"o$g" 3irecti<e 20082D82 +# was transposed on 8 in 200D and its app ication commenced in 2010, t"e standards app ied in t"e present pro>ect were a read8 "ig". (t was an "ono$r for t"e de egation to meet Mr. (oannis Maniatis, Minister of +n<ironment and # imate #"ange, w"o >oined t"e meeting. 6e e9pressed t"e s$pport of t"e po itica eaders"ip of t"e ministr8 to t"e wor; of t"e Petition?s #ommittee b8 co$rteo$s 8 pro<iding a t"e reJ$ired information. 6e stressed t"e great progress ac"ie<ed in Greece o<er t"e pre<io$s 8ears in waste management% fi<e *o$t of t"e t"irteen/ regions are no onger faced wit" waste management iss$es. (n "is opinion, t"e so $tion of t"ese iss$es entai s t"e co-

decision of oca comm$nities in t"e matter, and t"is can on 8 be ac"ie<ed b8 transparent proced$res, cond$cting of p$b ic dia og$e and cons$ tation and pers$asion of oca comm$nities. !"e ro e of t"e state, "e affirmed, is to offer f$nds and $nderta;e instit$tiona and egis ati<e initiati<es, in order to reso <e s$c" ob>ecti<es. .oca comm$nities s"o$ d rea ise t"at t"e8 are a so to be in<o <ed in t"e fig"t against a >oint fiend, w"ic" is t"e degradation of t"e en<ironment. !"e afternoon of Gednesda8, September 20t" was dedicated to an on-site <isit to t"e Grammati;o constr$ction site. !"e de egation was warm 8 we comed b8 t"e m$nicipa co$nci of Marat"on at t"e Marat"on 7ace M$se$m, w"ere t"e8 reiterated t"e reasons t"at t"e oca residents and a$t"orities are opposed to t"e andfi pro>ectE t"ese <er8 same reasons constit$ted a so t"e gro$nds for attac;ing t"e decision for t"e constr$ction of t"e faci it8 before t"e co$rts, a aw s$it w"ic" was re>ected b8 t"e #o$nci of State. !"e main reasons concerned t"e c"oice of t"e site itse f wit"o$t an8 ob>ecti<e reason or c ear criteria and t"e fact t"at t"e constr$ction is based on an +(A w"ic" ma;es no mention of t"e streams in t"e area *a fact eJ$a to en<ironmenta disaster/, of t"e seismic acti<it8 in t"e area and of t"e fact t"at on 8 in <itro geo ogica data was $sed. !"e composition of t"e gro$nd and t"e gro$ndwater were not ta;en into acco$nt or not e9amined. =pon arri<a to t"e andfi site, t"e de egation enco$ntered a gro$p of appro9imate 8 100 residents, w"o were peacef$ 8 protesting against t"e constr$ction and were s$pported b8 oca members of t"e Gree; par iament. !"e andfi is p aced in an id8 ic ocation, in a <a e8 at c ose pro9imit8 to t"e sea and wit" e9J$isite <iew to t"e so$t"ern G$ f of +<ia. (t s"o$ d be noted t"at t"e <isit too; p ace in a da8 wit" e9ce ent weat"er conditions, and t"e de egation was t"$s $nab e to persona 8 witness t"e fact t"at t"e e9ca<ation prod$cts are was"ed b8 t"e rain into t"e sea. !"e petitioners did "owe<er pro<ide c ear p"otograp"ic and <ideo e<idence of t"is. According to an engineer of t"e contractor, w"o recei<ed t"e de egation and pro<ided for t"e necessar8 tec"nica e9p anations, t"e ce of t"e andfi is a most comp ete, i.e. a t"e eart"wor;s are comp eted at an area of o<er 10 acres, and t"e ins$ ation materia s "a<e been p aced, s$c" as arg8 e a8er, geomembranes, geote9ti es and on 8 in part some draining membranes. A so t"e faci it8 for t"e co ection and t"e processing of eac"ates is comp ete. Gor;s "a<e not commenced 8et for t"e constr$ction of t"e composting, rec8c ing and biodr8ing faci ities. #onfronted b8 Prof. Ce epert)is and a retired inspector for t"e Ministr8 of t"e +n<ironment and responding to t"e J$estions posed b8 t"e Members, t"e engineer e9p ained t"at t"e pro>ect poses no t"reat to t"e en<ironment, t"at a pro<isions and decisions are being comp ied wit" and t"at its en<ironmenta and eco ogica standards are <er8 "ig" and t"at it is in fact a state of t"e art pro>ect. 6e c aimed t"at t"e protests of t"e oca residents are not <a id, in t"e sense t"at a t"e necessar8 preca$tions "a<e been ta;en. 6is rep ies were dismissed as ies b8 distra$g"t oca residents and t"e ma8or. Fo owing t"e conc $sion of t"e <isit, t"e M+Ps approac"ed t"e p$b ic, w"o saw t"e de egation as t"eir ast "ope, after a means of ega reco$rse against t"e constr$ction of t"e pro>ect "ad been re>ected. !"e eader of t"e de egation Mr. (t$rgai) and Mr. 01fner stressed t"at t"e8 were t"ere to see wit" t"eir own e8es and "ear abo$t t"e iss$es at "and, t"$s ma;ing t"e <oices of t"e oca peop e "eard in +$rope. Day 2: Arkadia and Attica (Megalopoli and Fyli) !"e second da8 fo$nd t"e de egation wa;ing $p in !ripo i, t"e capita of Ar;adia in centra Pe oponnese. According to t"eir sc"ed$ e t"e first meeting of t"e da8 was wit" t"e m$nicipa

co$nci of Mega opo i, a sma town appro9. 20 min$tes awa8 from !ripo i. !"e ma8or of !ripo i, Mr. 4o$ras, w"o is a so t"e petitioner in t"is case *0DA822008/, we comed t"e de egation and proceeded wit" presenting t"e $nder 8ing facts of "is petition. An ind$stria waste management site is to be constr$cted in t"e o$ts;irts of Mega opo i, in a sma distance from t"e ignite power p ant operated since t"e 1DA0s b8 t"e 6e enic P$b ic Power #ompan8 3+(. A permit was iss$ed in &an$ar8 2008 b8 t"e Gree; Ministr8 of t"e +n<ironment to t"e 3+( in respect of t"is andfi site, w"ic" was to recei<e Mmain 8 b$i ding materia s containing asbestos originating from 3+( insta ations, as we from ot"er p$b ic b$i dings s$c" as sc"oo s, "ospita s etc. in t"e region of Pe oponneseM. !"e term Pasbestos wasteQ contained in t"e initia ministeria decision, for w"ic" t"e permit was origina 8 iss$ed, "as since been c"anged to Pind$stria and ot"er wasteQ. !"e reason for t"is c"ange is t"at at t"e time w"en t"e constr$ction of t"e andfi was concei<ed 3+( "ad >$st deconstr$cted one of t"e coo ing towers in one of its power p ants w"ic" contained a arge n$mber of asbestos p ates. 3+( opted "owe<er for t"e transport and t"e s$bseJ$ent disposa of t"ese p ates in German8. !"e petitioner maintains t"at t"e description of t"e t8pe of waste in t"e +(A is not acc$rate and co$ d possib 8 mean t"at a so ot"er t8pes of waste wi end $p in t"e andfi , of t8pes t"at sti remain $n;nown. 6e a so c aims t"at t"e ministeria decision of 2011 is based on an +(A report of 2008, w"ic" was not $pdated at t"e time of t"e decision. G"at is more, 3+( "as repeated 8 asserted t"at it no onger $ses t"e site, w"ic" in "is opinion is $ntr$e, as it appears from recent s$r<e8or p ans. (n t"e +(A report t"e area pinned for constr$ction appears to be far awa8 from residentia areas, 8et in fact t"e sett ement of !"o;nia is at a distance of on 8 400 metres. !"e p$b ic "ad not been informed b8 t"e state abo$t its p ans for t"e constr$ction of t"e site, and despite t"e n$mero$s reso $tions b8 m$nicipa , prefect$ra and regiona co$nci s, t"e state remained indifferent to t"e citi)ens? concerns. A e9p anations are a eged 8 fo$nded on inacc$rate data f$rnis"ed b8 t"e Gree; state. !"erefore, oca residents "a<e been str$gg ing for t"e past 8ears against t"e constr$ction in t"e area, as $nder t"e partic$ ar site t"ere is t"e argest $ndergro$nd a;e in t"e 4a ;ans, "o ding ca. 300 mi ion m3 of water *3+( is in fact $sing t"e $ndergro$nd water as coo ing iJ$id for its power p ant/. (t is t"e petitioner?s <iew t"at t"e Gree; state tries to find a so $tion to t"e prob em of dangero$s waste t"ro$g" 3+(?s needsE t"e fact t"at 3+( no onger needs to dispose of asbestos p ates on 8 ma;es t"e need for constr$ction of t"e andfi red$ndant. +<en t"o$g" t"e en<ironmenta terms for t"e andfi c ear 8 indicate t"e t8pe of waste to be disposed of, it sti remains $nc ear w"at t8pe of ind$stria waste is intended for t"e site. As t"e $se of ignite as a fossi f$e for power prod$ction is grad$a 8 abandoned, oca residents reJ$est t"at t"eir area, an area of great nat$ra bea$t8 and reso$rces, is re"abi itated and t"at t"ere is c arification abo$t t"e state?s intentions, as t"ere is a so ot"er t8pes of waste, w"ic" are far more dangero$s and t"at are not e9press 8 mentioned. @t"er spea;ers *a doctor, member of t"e Gree; Par iament, and a representati<e of t"e regiona co$nci / e9pressed t"e concerns of t"e pop$ ation abo$t en<ironmenta po $tion and p$b ic "ea t" matters. !"e8 are wear8 abo$t t"e waste t"at wi be disposed and abo$t ac; of acco$ntabi it8 b8 t"e state and pri<ate persons. A t"o$g" in t"e area 3+( is operating specia $nits for t"e processing of s$ f$r resid$es in air, t"ese partic$ ar 3+( ignite mines are e9"$ming more s$ f$r into t"e atmosp"ere w"en compared wit" ot"er mines in Greece. #$rrent 8 t"e proced$re for t"e constr$ction is progressing and t"e PPP draft contract was reJ$ested b8 socia gro$ps for information and cons$ tation. !"is "as not been disc osed as it is a eged 8 <io ating += awE despite t"at, a temporar8 contractor for t"e constr$ction "as a read8 been identified.

.oca ma8ors w"o were a so present indicated t"at t"e8 are worried abo$t t"e fact t"at ot"er t8pes of dangero$s waste, from ot"er parts of t"e Pe oponnese and from Greece wi be disposed in t"e andfi . !"e8 are against t"e disposa in t"e neig"bo$r?s bac;8ard and contend t"at management s"o$ d be done oca 8. !"e8 find it et"ica 8 c"a enging t"at an area w"ic" is a read8 considerab 8 po $ted and "as contrib$ted great 8 to nationa econom8 s"o$ d bear an e9tra b$rden. A s"ort disc$ssion on petition 11B222010 ens$ed, w"ic" refers to t"e +rmioni area in t"e neig"bo$ring prefect$re of Argo ida. Gater is no onger potab e in man8 areas, d$e to contamination b8 pesticides, as pro<ed b8 water samp e ana 8ses performed at t"e be"est of t"e Gree; #omm$nist Part8. A f$rt"er concern is t"e constr$ction of a arge "ote in +rmioni, w"ic" wi a so inc $de se<era go f co$rses, to t"e detriment of t"e remaining $ndergro$nd waters. F$rt"ermore a desa ination $nit c$rrent 8 in constr$ction is i ega , bot" from a tec"nica and constr$ctiona point of <iew, w"i e t"e p ant for processing of iJ$id waste is operating i ega 8, i.e. wit"o$t a permit. (n fact, t"e +n<ironment Ser<ice of t"e Prefect$re of Argo ida ascertained in an on-site <isit t"at t"ere are a ot of <io ations in t"e operation of t"e p ant. .ast b$t not east, t"ere is t"e prob em of t"o$sands of tons of waste in t"e M$nicipa it8 of +rmionis% appro9 40.000 pac;s of processed waste are awaiting t"eir transport from t"e area, po $ting t"e air, t"e $ndergro$nd waters and t"e s$rro$nding en<ironment as a w"o e, w"i e r$nning t"e ris; of catc"ing fire from t"e waste t"at is being b$rnt in t"e nearb8 andfi . S$bseJ$ent 8 t"e de egation <isited t"e site of t"e f$t$re constr$ction of t"e andfi , w"ic" ies at a c ose distance from t"e 3+( power p ant. Ms. ,asi i;i !sadari, 3irector of t"e Generation +n<ironment 3epartment of 3+( greeted t"e gro$p and e9p ained t"e operations p anned on a map, and answered a series of J$estions b8 t"e petitioners and t"e members. (t appears *a so from t"e materia s made a<ai ab e from t"e #ommittee on Petitions/ t"at t"e ministeria decision spea;s on 8 of asbestos and not of ot"er t8pes of ind$stria waste, and act$a 8 bans t"e disposa of iJ$id waste, e<en t"o$g" t"e andfi wi "a<e made a owances for eac"ates. !"is a so means t"at t"ere wi be no ea;age to $ndergro$nd waters and no contamination of t"e nearb8 ri<ers. Asbestos does not prod$ce eac"ates, as it is inert and after b$ria it does not pose an8 t"reat to t"e s$rro$nding en<ironment, as indicated in 3ecision 20032332+#. G"at is more, after constr$ction of t"e site, its operation wi be contingent $pon a permit to be granted b8 t"e 7egion. (n t"is permit a t"e t8pes of waste wi "a<e to be described in great detai , indicating t"eir e9act codes, t"$s raising an8 do$bts abo$t t"is. Asbestos is potentia 8 "armf$ to t"e en<ironment and to "$mans on 8 w"en its fibres are re eased in t"e air d$ring t"e remo<a of p ates from b$i dings. !"e tec"nica specifications for t"e constr$ction of t"e andfi in Mega opo i are <er8 strict and, according to t"e promoters, stricter t"an t"ose prescribed b8 += egis ation, a fact t"at s"o$ d ease t"e peop e?s concerns and ens$re t"e protection of t"e en<ironment. An indication for t"at is t"at asbestos p ates wi be transported for b$ria in p astic containers to ens$re t"at no fibres are re eased. !"e monitoring, contro and s$r<ei ance s8stem of t"e andfi s"a be intricate and in<o <e freJ$ent c"ec;s to $ndergro$nd waters, odo$rs, noises, s$bsidence etc. !"e res$ ts of s$c" obser<ations are to be inc $ded in t"e ann$a report. !"e distance from neig"bo$ring sett ements *s$c" as !"o;nia/ was ta;en into acco$nt d$ring t"e p anning stage. (n fact fo owing geo ogica st$dies in t"e area of t"e !"o;nia mine, it was fo$nd t"at t"e composition of t"e gro$nds is t"e area is s$c" t"at act$a 8 ma;es an8 permeation b8 eac"ates <irt$a 8 impossib e or "ig" 8 $n i;e 8. (t s"o$ d a so be noted t"at a simi ar andfi for asbestos waste is in operation since 2004 in nort"-western Greece. A most 18.000 tons of s$c" waste "a<e a read8 been disposed of t"ere, wit"o$t an8 prob ems, as indicated b8 ann$a s$rface and $ndergro$nd water ana 8ses. 3+( and state representati<es tried n$mero$s times

to e9p ain t"e fact$a sit$ation to t"e ma8or and t"e oca s and to set t"eir minds at ease. !"e permit for t"e creation of t"e $nit wi be granted to 3+(. G"en 3+( wi need to demo is" ot"er p ants in t"e f$t$re, t"en it wi begin constr$ction of t"e andfi , and according 8 wi on 8 b$i d as man8 ce s in t"e andfi as wi be indicated in t"e demo ition st$d8 at t"at time. (n an8 e<ent, t"e constr$ction of a andfi ce for b$ria is m$c" ess cost 8 t"an "a<ing t"e materia s transported abroad for disposa . @n t"e wa8 bac; to At"ens, t"e de egation made a stop at t"e andfi of F8 i, as promised t"e da8 before. !"is <isit was an o$t-of-sc"ed$ e, spontaneo$s reaction to t"e reJ$est of t"e oca residents, b$t it was a so important for t"e de egation to see t"e e9act sit$ation in t"e argest andfi in Greece. !"e de egation of t"e +P was we comed at t"e site b8 teams of oca residents, w"o were protesting peacef$ 8 and oo;ing $p to t"e Members for s$pport, as we as b8 members of t"e Gree; Par iament, w"o "ad been informed abo$t t"e <isit. .ocated on a p atea$ in western Attica at safe distance from t"e sea and operating since t"e 1DB0s wit" a tota s$rface of o<er 800 acres, t"e massi<e andfi at present "as a dept" of B00 meters, 2B0 metres $ndergro$nd and 2B0 metres abo<e gro$nd. (t recei<es dai 8 appro9imate 8 A.000 tons and ann$a 8 ca. 2 mi ion tons of waste. +<en t"o$g" t"ere "as been considerab e impro<ement to t"e infrastr$ct$re and t"e proced$res fo owed on site, a fact a so estab is"ed b8 inspectors for t"e en<ironment in pre<io$s <isits, according to t"e st$dies performed b8 t"e =ni<ersit8 of At"ens, t"e $ndergro$nd waters "a<e been damaged be8ond an8 repair or re"abi itation. +<en if t"e andfi ceased its operation at t"is <er8 moment, it wo$ d ta;e appro9imate 8 200 8ears for t"e en<ironment to reco<er. #ancer cases are e9treme 8 freJ$ent in t"e area, especia 8 among t"e 8o$t" and t"e personne emp o8ed at t"e andfi , d$e to t"e contaminated airE ne<ert"e ess t"is fact is not confirmed b8 t"e :ationa #entre 3isease #ontro and Pre<ention. @t"er conditions are a so freJ$ent, s$c" as a ergies and s;in conditions at great freJ$enc8. !"e waste management s8stem in F8 i needs to be rep aced b8 rec8c ing and separation of waste at t"e so$rce, w"i e t"ere s"o$ d be en<ironmenta re"abi itation at t"e e9act ocation of t"e andfi . !"e c osest sett ement to t"e andfi ies on 8 B00 metres awa8. !"ere is no separation at t"e so$rce, waste is >$st being po$red into t"e andfi and b$ried. !"ere are composting p ants in t"e area, w"ic" a so dispose of t"e compost in t"e andfi . !"e oca s want t"at t"e andfi stops operating, t"at a new waste management s8stem is introd$ced and t"at t"e site mig"t operate on 8 for resid$a wasteE t"e8 regret t"e fact t"at t"e += is financing it and t"at so far no cons$ tation wit" oca societ8 "as ta;en p ace, w"ic" in t$rn res$ ts into ac; of tr$st and be ief in t"e state?s intentions and initiati<es. Day 3: Thesprotia and Cor ! ("ar#o!nari and $e kimmi) !"e de egation arri<ed ate in t"e e<ening of !"$rsda8, September 1D t" on t"e is and of #orf$ and in t"e morning of Frida8, September 20t" it crossed b8 boat t"e straits between t"e is and and main and *western/ Greece, in order to arri<e in !"esprotia, a prefect$re in t"e nort" western part of t"e co$ntr8, and <isit t"e andfi of Car<o$nari, in response to petition 21222008 b8 Mr. (oannis Papadopo$ os. From t"e information gat"ered d$ring t"e meetings in t"e Ministr8 in At"ens on September 18t", from t"e meetings in t"e !own"a of So$ i on September 20t" and from t"e e9tensi<e materia s s$pp ied b8 t"e Ministr8, it appears t"at t"e 7egiona Gaste Management P an for +pir$s pro<ides for t"e operation of separation s8stems at t"e so$rce and rec8c ing for a m$nicipa ities, one processing p ant in (oannina and fo$r andfi s, among w"ic" is Car<o$nari, ser<icing t"e prefect$res of !"esprotia and Pre<e)a. 1AI.1B0 residents were

offered rec8c ing ser<ices in 2012 and 4.40D tons of pac;aging and paper were reco<ered. A i ega andfi s in t"e area "a<e been s"$t down. Appro<a for t"e Car<o$nari andfi was gi<en in 2003 fo owing an +(A report. !"e p$b ic was ca ed $pon to s$bmit obser<ations d$ring t"e +(A. !"e pro>ect recei<ed f$nding from t"e #o"esion F$nd, b$t constr$ction was de a8ed d$e to a series of administrati<e and >$dicia proceedings initiated b8 oca residents w"ic" were a re>ected. #onstr$ction was comp eted and operations commenced in 200D. #iti)ens? comp aints re ated to t"e o<erf owing of t"e ce , t"e eac"ates draining into t"e gro$ndwater *$ndergro$nd connection wit" t"e nearb8 ri<er Ac"eron and its side-ri<er Co;;8tos were scientifica 8 estab is"ed/, t"e presence of seag$ s and ot"er arge birds in an area w"ere i<estoc; farming is <er8 de<e oped and t"e main so$rce of income for man8 fami ies, as we t"e sma distance from residentia areas and t"e respecti<e odo$rs. G"at is more, t"e faci it8 was a so recei<ing e9tra waste from (go$menitsa and Fi iates, and t"is ed to t"e increase of orr8 traffic in t"e nearb8 comm$nit8 of Car<o$nari. Fo owing comp aints abo$t prob ematic operation of t"e andfi , t"e +$ropean #ommission initiated proceedings of non-comp iance. An on-site <isit and report b8 t"e (nspectors for t"e +n<ironment identified a series of prob ems, s$c" as ins$fficient eac"ate contro and contro o<er t"e sanitar8 b$r8ing, as we as iss$es wit" biogas contro s. (t was fo$nd to Kpresent fai $res and omissions in terms of assessment, design and man$fact$ring2constr$ction. !"is is a so confirmed t"ro$g" t"e written obser<ations b8 a member of t"e committee of receipt of t"e pro>ect and b8 t"e f$nctioning contractor. !"e report a so notes $nfinis"ed constr$ctions, ac; of materia and non-appro<ed modifications in constr$ction materia sL. !"e management compan8 of t"e andfi was fined and reJ$ested to ta;e meas$res. !"e winter of 2012-2013 "ad $n$s$a 8 ab$ndant rainfa in store for t"e area of Car<o$nari. A t"o$g" t"e 8ear 8 rainfa is appro9 1100 mm, d$ring t"at partic$ ar winter t"e rainfa reac"ed e<e s of 20I0mm, w"ic" a8 far be8ond t"e constr$ction specifications and was t"e "ig"est rainfa in Greece for t"e 8ear. As a res$ t, t"e ce s o<erf owed wit" rainwater mi9ed wit" t"e $nco<ered waste, and in fact reac"ed e<e s t"at "ig", t"at t"e ce was a most at t"e <erge of o<erf owing into a nearb8 stream or e<en t"e wa s of t"e ce gi<ing wa8 d$e to "8dra$ ic press$re. A temporar8 so $tion was gi<en b8 transporting e9cessi<e eac"ates b8 tan;er orries to t"e faci it8 of Parga. !"e m$nicipa it8 fi ed a crimina comp aint wit" t"e p$b ic prosec$tor. (n Ma8 2012 t"e 7egion of +pir$s set $p a tec"nica committee to assess t"e sit$ation and propose concrete meas$res t"at s"o$ d be ta;en b8 t"e management compan8 of t"e andfi , in order to ens$re comp iance wit" en<ironmenta terms of t"e pro>ect and += egis ation. A cost ana 8sis of appro9. 102.000 +$ros was a so attac"ed, a ong wit" a prioritisation of t"e meas$res to be ta;en in terms of $rgenc8. !"e fo owing were identified as meas$res of Kgreatest significanceL% t"e creation of a "ori)onta biogas co ection s8stemE obstr$cting eac"ates from o<erf owing into a stream eading to a ri<erE estab is"ing w"et"er t"e p acing of draining membrane and geote9ti e wo$ d be cond$ci<e to t"e operation of t"e andfi , as t"ese two <er8 important a8ers were not p aced in t"e andfi ce at t"e time of de i<er8 of t"e pro>ectE t"e insta ation of ig"tning protection s8stems, and fina 8 t"e rep acement of t"e missing parts, in order to set t"e eac"ates monitoring, transport and processing s8stem again in operation. !"e 7egion of +pir$s ens$red t"e financing of sma pro>ects to address t"ese mattersE ne<ert"e ess, despite t"e best efforts and intentions of t"e state a$t"orities, t"eir s$ccess is on 8 partia , to t"e e9tent t"at oca residents fear t"at t"e ce mig"t again be f ooded in t"e winter to come. !"e m$nicipa it8 and t"e oca residents reJ$est t"at t"e regiona p anning is

c"anged, in order to ens$re t"at t"e b$rden, i.e. t"e tonnage of waste recei<ed b8 eac" andfi in +pir$s is born b8 faci ities wit" adeJ$ate infrastr$ct$re and specifications. @n top of t"at, rec8c ing "as on 8 now started to ro o$t in t"e area. !"e reason for t"at is t"e sma si)e of t"e m$nicipa it8, w"ic" ed t"e m$nicipa a$t"orities to enter into contracts wit" ot"er arger m$nicipa ities in order to be ab e to b$8 t"e necessar8 p$b ic rec8c ing bins. !"e main goa is to create a rec8c ing c$ t$re wit" t"e citi)ens. (n rep 8 to a J$estion b8 Mr. (t$rgai), ot"er ma8ors in t"e area stressed t"at t"ere was inter<ention b8 p$b ic prosec$tors in t"e matter of Car<o$nari a read8 in 2012, w"en t"e ce first o<erf owed. A st$d8 commanded b8 t"e p$b ic prosec$tor bro$g"t to ig"t man8 inadeJ$acies% wrongf$ pinning of t"e ocation, errors in st$dies at t"e precontracting stage, prob ems and omissions d$ring constr$ction, ris;s d$ring operation. A so administrati<e proceedings were a so initiated before t"e #o$nci of State. +<en t"o$g" t"e "earing of t"e case too; p ace in &$ne 2011, t"e co$rt "as not so far prono$nced its >$dgement, e<en t"o$g" o<er two 8ears "a<e passed. (n addition to t"e abo<e, t"e +$ropean #ommission initiated proceedings against t"e Gree; go<ernment for non-comp iance, d$e to t"e fa$ t8 operation of t"e Car<o$nari andfi . !"e de egation <isited t"e andfi site, w"ic" ies a few "$ndred metres off t"e comm$nit8 of Car<o$nari at an a tit$de of 300-I00 metres, escorted b8 t"e president of t"e management compan8 of t"e andfi *Ma8or of Parga/, t"e ma8or of So$ i, Ms. 4raimi, and members of t"e m$nicipa co$nci . 7ecei<ed b8 a representati<e of t"e management of t"e andfi , an engineer, t"e representati<es of t"e m$nicipa ities and t"e residents e9pressed t"eir concerns *stated abo<e/ to "im and to t"e M+Ps. From t"e <antage point w"ere t"e de egation stood it was diffic$ t to see m$c" in t"e ce of t"e andfi E t"ere was a so no recent rainfa to obser<e its effect on t"e ce , b$t sti , e<en t"o$g" it was t"e end of a "ot s$mmer t"ere was a pond of water in t"e ce , co<ered wit" waste f oating on t"e s$rface. @do$rs were present, b$t according to t"e ma8or of So$ i t"e fo$ sme on t"at da8 was rat"er moderate, as m$c" of waste was e9tensi<e 8 and correct 8 co<ered in <iew of t"e <isit of t"e M+Ps. !"ere were a so no seag$ s or ot"er birds. @t"er residents insin$ated t"at t"e management entit8 of t"e andfi did t"eir best to paint an impro<ed and mis eading pict$re to t"e <isiting de egation, as, for instance, t"e processing faci it8 is "ard 8 e<er in operation- nor was it act$a 8 on t"at partic$ ar da8. !a;ing a boat bac; to t"e is and of #orf$, t"e de egation made a fina stop at .ef;immi, a sma <i age at t"e far so$t" end of t"e is and, in order to "a<e a first- "and impression abo$t t"e comp aints inc $ded in t"e aforementioned petition 21222008 b8 Mr. (oannis Papadopo$ os. !"e 7egiona Gaste Management P an for t"e (onian (s and pro<ides for t"e operation of separation s8stems at t"e so$rce and rec8c ing for a m$nicipa ities, one processing p ant in centra Cer;8ra and two andfi s, among w"ic" is .ef;immi, ser<icing t"e so$t"ern #orf$ and t"e is ands of Pa9i. 104.3A1 residents were offered rec8c ing ser<ices in 2012 and B.384 tons of pac;aging and paper were reco<ered. !"e so e waste disposa ocation is !emp oni in centra Cer;8ra, as t"e .ef;immi andfi is not in operation, e<en t"o$g" t"e first site of constr$ction *s$rface of 1D.84D sJ.m/ of t"e compo$nd *tota s$rface 3I.820 sJ.m./ is comp ete. Proced$res for t"e creation of a andfi began as ear 8 as 1DDB. An +(A report was prod$ced and t"e p$b ic was ca ed to s$bmit t"eir obser<ations d$ring t"e +(A process. !"e proced$res fo owed $nti commencement of constr$ction were comp iant to t"e egis ation in force, i.e. opinions b8 t"e re e<ant a$t"orities on t"e partic$ ar ocation were reJ$ired and gi<en, and t"en t"e Pinning decision was iss$ed b8 t"e 3epartment for t"e +n<ironment of

t"e Prefect$re. !"e constr$ction of t"e site was co-financed b8 t"e 2000-200I #o"esion F$nd wit" a tota b$dget of 3.000.000 +$ro. (t s"o$ d be noted t"at t"e egis ation t"at was t"en in force, b$t a so t"e c$rrent egis ation do not pro<ide for p$b ic cons$ tation. #onstr$ction of t"e andfi was de a8ed beca$se of ega proceedings initiated b8 t"e residents before t"e #o$nci of State, w"ic" were a re>ected. G"at is more, t"e andfi site is now comp ete b$t t"e faci it8 is not in operation. !"erefore it is impossib e to contro t"e comp iance wit" conditions imposed b8 en<ironmenta egis ation on waste management. Moreo<er, t"ere "as been no inspection b8 t"e (nspectors for t"e +n<ironment. !"e faci it8 is e9pected to commence operations w"en it wi "a<e recei<ed its permit, t"at is on 8 after t"e processing faci it8 is comp eted, t"e constr$ction of w"ic" is e9pected to be open for tendering b8 t"e end of 2013. !"e de egation went straig"t to t"e andfi site, w"ere it was we comed b8 a arge n$mber of concerned residents protesting peacef$ 8 and b8 t"e members of t"e =nion for t"e Management of So id Gaste in t"e Prefect$re of Cer;8ra. After a brief description of t"e constr$cted faci ities, residents and representati<es of t"e opposition and of oca citi)ens? gro$ps c aimed t"at t"e creation of t"e site s$rprised t"em, as se<en 8ears ago t"e8 "ad not been informed in ad<ance b8 an8 of t"e nationa 2 regiona 2 m$nicipa a$t"orities nor was t"ere an8 information in t"e oca press. 3$ring t"e constr$ction stage in pre<io$s 8ears, t"e oca residents protested and riot po ice was dispatc"ed from At"ens to preser<e t"e order. Some peop e were terrorised, gassed and assa$ ted b8 po ice officers and t"ere was e<en one deat". !"e8 acc$sed t"e m$nicipa a$t"orities of on 8 being interested in gi<ing t"e f$nds to t"e contractors, wit"o$t e<en caring abo$t waste management, so t"at t"e8 co$ d a so ina$g$rate anot"er comp eted constr$ction pro>ect for po itica reasons. F$rt"ermore, t"ere are arc"aeo ogica findings, bot" in t"e ce , b$t a so in c ose pro9imit8 *2B0 metres awa8/ to t"e ce . !"ere were a so acc$sations t"at d$ring constr$ction some residents were b oc;ed from accessing t"eir properties, w"ic" in t$rn ed to economic oss, d$e to t"e deat" of i<estoc; and t"e destr$ction of crops. Man8 of t"e residents are a so facing crimina or ci<i c"arges against t"em, mere 8 beca$se t"e8 protested against t"e constr$ction of t"e andfi faci it8. !"e +(A report not on 8 ignores some cr$cia data *s$c" as two ri<ers in t"e area/, in t"eir opinion, b$t a so inc $des $ntr$e information. !"ere is forest and w"ic" "as been $prooted and t"e soi aro$nd t"e area is $sed for agric$ t$ra protection *<ine8ards and o i<e trees/. !"ere are a so sett ements nearb8, s$c" as Ca<os *B00 m distance/. !"e contractors stopped t"e wor;s t"e da8 before t"e arri<a of t"e de egation beca$se t"e8 fo$nd water in t"e ce , w"ic" in t"e opinion of t"e residents is "8dra$ ica 8 connected to t"e twent8 we s in t"e area *indeed t"ere was a sma a;e in t"e centre of t"e ce /, w"ic" r$n t"e ris; of contamination b8 f$t$re eac"ates. !"e water r$ns e<ident 8 $nder t"e water tab e, beca$se inspections performed b8 t"e (nstit$te of Geo ogica St$dies in a dr8 time of t"e 8ear indicated t"at it was not rainwater. From t"e ric" materia s offered to $s b8 t"e Ministr8 of +n<ironment and b8 oca a$t"orities, t"e state seems to "a<e obser<ed a egis ati<e pro<isions wit" regard to t"e stages of t"e proced$re to be fo owed and in partic$ ar to t"e necessar8 p$b icit8 of its actions. (t s"o$ d be noted t"at t"e egis ation t"at was t"en in force, b$t a so t"e c$rrent egis ation do not foresee t"e ob igation for p$b ic cons$ tation before t"e stage of p$b ication of t"e +(A report. G"en t"e pro>ect reac"ed t"at stage, t"e report was sent o$t to <ario$s oca a$t"orities and citi)ens? organisations for t"eir comments, and se<en citi)ens e9pressed t"eir concerns before t"e Prefect$ra #o$nci . !"is means in fact t"at between 1DDB and 200B t"ere "ad been no ot"er protests *ot"er t"an t"at of t"e se<en residents/, e<en t"o$g" t"e

constr$ction of t"e site "ad been anno$nced to t"e press in 1DDD and t"ere "ad been disc$ssions in t"e 7egiona , Prefect$ra and M$nicipa co$nci s of a re ati<e 8 sma is and s$c" as #orf$, w"ere news tra<e s fast. @n t"e tec"nica aspect of t"e citi)en?s assertions, t"e st$dies $nderta;en for t"e se ection of t"e site, as we as for t"e +(A report depict t"e state at t"e time t"at t"e st$d8 was drafted, i.e. in 1DD8. At t"e time .ef;immi was 3,B ;m, :eoc"ori 1,B ;m and Ca<os 1,B ;m awa8 from t"e siteE w"at is more nationa aws do not pro<ide for a minim$m distance of sett ements from t"e constr$ction site. !"e state <e"ement 8 re>ects t"e arg$ment t"at t"e water t"at appeared in t"e centre of t"e ce is water from oca we s and e9p ains t"at it is tec"nica 8 possib e *d$e to ac; of p$mping in an non-operating faci it8/ t"at rainwater is gat"ered at t"e centre. (n an8 e<ent, dri ing and bore"o es in t"e area "a<e indicated t"at t"ere is no $ndergro$nd water in t"e area. And fina 8 a t"e abo<e arg$ments ma8 pro<e to be moot w"en t"e operation of t"e andfi commences, beca$se it wi be t$rned into a Faci it8 for processing resid$a waste, as soon as t"e operation of t"e (ntegrated Gaste Management Faci it8 commences. III. Conclusions Members ret$rned to 4r$sse s wit" t"eir bags f$ of materia s gi<en to t"em b8 petitioners and a$t"orities and w"ic" were f$rt"er on s$pp emented b8 materia s recei<ed b8 post in t"e two mont"s t"at fo owed t"e conc $sion of t"e <isit. !"e importance of t"e mission for t"e peop e w"o went to great tro$b e to meet and we come t"e members of t"e de egation and t"e Gree; accompan8ing members w"o a so acti<e 8 participated cannot be $nderestimated. +specia 8 t"e former e9pect t"e +$ropean Par iament as a representati<e of K+$ropeL to do somet"ing and "e p t"em o$t of conditions t"at are $nbearab e for t"em and for f$t$re generations, and see its Members as "era ds of "ope. +<en t"o$g" members <isited andfi sites in <ario$s stages of progress and t"e sc"ed$ e of t"e <isit was <er8 intense and inc $ded man8 destinations in on 8 t"ree da8s, t"ere are some common t"reads2 conc $sions t"at can be drawn a fina o$tcome of t"e <isit. !"e o<era impression is t"at t"ere is a manifest ac; of concise po itica <ision or rea p an abo$t waste management. #onseJ$ent 8, t"e egac8 of 8ears of comp ete neg ect in t"e app ication of waste management egis ation in Greece is massi<e. 3espite t"e ac;now edged financia and po itica tro$b e t"at waste "as meant for t"e co$ntr8 and t"e stated determination of t"e nationa a$t"orities to remed8 t"e sit$ation, e<en now t"e comp iant app ication is on 8 progressing at a <er8 s ow pace. 7ec8c ing "as on 8 recent 8 been organised d$ring t"e ast t"ree 8ears, been set $p and r$nning in arger cities, s$c" as At"ens and !"essa oni;i. .i;ewise, w"i e waste management faci ities inc $ding rec8c ing factories ne9t to organised andfi s "a<e been constr$cted on 8 in ma>or cities, and on 8 partia 8 and oca 8 in ot"er geograp"ica compartments, s$c" as +astern Macedonia and !"race, w"ere on 8 recent 8 a rec8c ing faci it8 commenced operations. !"ere are indeed parts of Greece, main 8 in remote areas, w"ere rec8c ing proced$res "a<e >$st now been introd$ced, and t"ere are a so parts of Greece, s$c" as is ands, w"ere no rec8c ing proced$res and faci ities "a<e been estab is"ed and comm$nicated to t"e p$b ic. As a res$ t of t"e abo<e, citi)ens seem to ac;now edge andfi s as t"e on 8 means of waste management. !"is is a so paired b8 t"e notab e fact t"at at decision-ma;ing e<e t"ere is genera re $ctance to de<e op a ternati<es to andfi faci ities for t"e effecti<e disposa of waste in a more en<ironmenta 8 so$nd manner. According to t"e nationa a$t"orities, str$ct$ra wea;nesses of t"e oca administration w"o are t"e ;e8 actors for m$nicipa waste management and for t"e imp ementation of m$nicipa

waste po icies t"at ed to s$ccessi<e administrati<e reforms and restr$ct$ring in recent 8ears, were ref ected in t"e s ow de<e opment of waste management pro>ects. An8wa8, t"e option of o$tso$rcing t"e management of waste in oca a$t"orities was a conscio$s c"oice in t"e ser<ice of decentra i)ation and t"e princip e of pro9imit8 Anot"er feat$re t"at was common in a sites <isited was t"e fact t"at, e9cept for intense protests, citi)ens resorted to co$rts see;ing redress against t"e decisions for t"e constr$ction of andfi sites. S$c" decisions can on 8 be attac;ed before t"e "ig"est administrati<e co$rt, t"e #o$nci of State, and >$dgments from t"is co$rt can ta;e 8ears $nti prono$nced. !"is conseJ$ent 8 ca$ses de a8s in t"e app ication of t"e egis ation and t"$s in t"e progress of p$b ic wor;s t"at can ast e<en for a decade. (t a so became c ear to t"e members of t"e de egation t"at t"ere is manifest distr$st and mistr$st b8 citi)ens towards t"e state and its a$t"orities. +<en t"o$g" e9p anations ma8 be offered, access to doc$ments granted and a<ai abi it8 for disc$ssion, Gree; citi)ens, it seems *based on t"eir e9periences of t"eir economic co apse and t"e reasons w"ic" ed to t"is,/ cannot "e p b$t oo; for t"e "idden agenda be"ind eac" go<ernment statement, act or action. !"is eads occasiona 8 to potentia 8 e9aggerated be"a<io$r and o<erreacting towards go<ernment decisions. !"erefore, m$c" wor; is sti needed to be done in t"e fie d of transparenc8 and p$b ic participation to re<ert t"is trend, in order to ac"ie<e t"e m$c" needed socia acceptance and so idarit8 w"ic" is abso $te 8 imperati<e for s$c" pro>ects to wor;. !"e Mega opo i pro>ect is a c ear e9amp e of t"is critica attit$de of t"e citi)ens, w"ere p$b ic cons$ tation and e9p anations w"ic" ac; credibi it8 are not eno$g" for citi)ens to gi<e $p t"eir s$spicions. M$c" of t"is can of co$rse be attrib$ted to t"e opaJ$e top-down approac" fo owed b8 state a$t"orities in past decades, presenting decisions a read8 made be"ind c osed doors and ?cop8-paste en<ironmenta impact assessments, w"ic" eft t"e p$b ic $nin<o <ed and ga<e rise to t"is war8 attit$de. !"is is in spite of t"e nomina responsibi ities gi<en to oca a$t"orities b8 aw. !wo more t"ings were a so manifest d$ring t"e <isit% first 8 t"at t"e ocation of andfi sites was in t"e cases e9amined prob ematic, to sa8 t"e east, as t"e8 appear to entai ris;s of water po $tion *bot" gro$ndwater and s$perficia , i;e ga e8s, ri<ers and sea/. !"e geo ogica c"aracteristics of some sites do not seem to be t"e most appropriate, d$e to instabi it8 and2or permeabi it8 to p"reatic a8er. Moreo<er, a diffic$ t access, s$c" as in Grammati;o, w"ic" increases t"e waste management-re ated costs and emissions. !"e c"oice was not done b8 ob>ecti<e and *scientifica 8/ <erifiab e criteria, b$t was in most cases a po itica decision, combined wit" ac; of foresig"t and2or ignorance E in fact s$itabi it8 seems to "a<e been attempted to be >$stified post-pinning b8 means of tec"nica st$dies. :e<ert"e ess, s$c" decisions "a<e great impact on t"e en<ironment and on t"e J$a it8 of ife of present and f$t$re generations, a fact t"at eads to t"e second rea isation, w"ic" is none ot"er t"an peop e are s$ffering and protesting beca$se of t"e traditiona , deep 8-rooted top-down approac" b8 po iticians and decision-ma;ers imposing p ans wit" often J$estionab e tec"nica and mora standards. !"e degradation of t"e en<ironment in F8 i wi be a mon$ment of en<ironmenta ma8"em, sic;ness and "$man s$ffering at east for t"e ne9t 3 generations i<ing in t"e area $n ess somet"ing more f$ndamenta is done to restore t"e area. .ast b$t not east, one m$st $nderscore t"e <isib e progress ac"ie<ed in t"e co$ntr8 in terms of en<ironmenta conscience, first of a at a socia e<e , w"ere Gree; citi)ens are a ert and aware of en<ironmenta factors affecting t"eir i<es and t"eir importance. :ot on 8 are t"e8 no onger indifferent towards en<ironmenta goa s and aspects in e<er8da8 ife, b$t a newfo$nd so idarit8 among fe ow citi)ens "as been fo$nd w"en facing w"at t"e8 consider socio-en<ironmenta in>$stices from a$t"orities. !"is does not appear to be a simp e :(M4H

approac", b$t rat"er a c aim of concern from citi)ens t"at t"e8 want to be informed and in<o <ed and t"at waste management is done proper 8 in t"eir territor8, in order it to be en<ironmenta 8 safe and wit" a fair s"are of t"e re ated b$rden. Second 8, at t"e e<e of po itica eaders"ip and decision-ma;ing, some efforts appear to start ta;ing p ace nowada8s% t"e ac;now edgement of t"e need for so id scientific e<idence and bac;ing of t"e positions s$pported b8 t"e state, transparenc8 and p$rs$it of socia participation t"ro$g" cons$ tation and p$b ic disc$ssion, obser<ance of awf$ ness *or at east in most of t"e cases/, e<en if sti at t"e owest e<e s of += waste "ierarc"8, and t"e commitment to contro t"e en<ironmenta terms d$ring t"e act$a operation of a pro>ect are t"e t"ree main a9es in t"is effort. A c"ange in menta it8 is essentia towards s$stainab e de<e opment, t"ro$g" t"e pre<ention of waste prod$ction, re$se, rec8c ing and reco<er8 of prod$cts and energ8. !"ese were notions former 8 $n;nown or former 8 not app ied in practice in Greece, b$t now t"e8 are simp 8 mainstream. Het, one m$st a so $nderscore t"e e<ident po iticisation of waste management iss$es, somet"ing w"ic" is a so a factor of di<ision and dissent among distra$g"t citi)ens, w"o freJ$ent 8 see t"eir "onest interest in s$stainab e en<ironmenta so $tions e9p oited for po itica p$rposes. !"e fact t"e Greece is again in t"e sig"ts of t"e #ommission s"o$ d f$rt"er enco$rage t"is grad$a c"ange ta;ing p ace, b$t t"e #ommission s"o$ d be caref$ to accompan8 its efforts wit" rea financia incenti<es rat"er t"an fines for non-comp iance. S$ccessf$ imp ementation "owe<er reJ$ires a greater effort to recognise egitimate concerns of oca peop e and ta;e t"eir <iews more serio$s 8, especia 8 w"en t"e8 are s$pported b8 scientific and we -doc$mented st$dies to be inc $ded in decision-ma;ing. .oca a$t"orities m$st be recognised as essentia partners in waste management and not as potentia <ictims of ignorance, despite carr8ing ess powerf$ po itica weig"t wit" t"e nationa go<ernment in fina decisions. More priorit8 m$st be attac"ed pre<enting waste in t"e first p ace, and to t"e separation of waste at t"e so$rce, in order to s$bstantia 8 red$ce <o $mes of mi9ed waste entering andfi s or ittering t"e co$ntr8side. !"is is an important feat$re of t"e Gaste Management 3irecti<e and m$st be app ied. .ess mi9ed waste m$st be sent to andfi s and ot"er forms of disposa m$st be so$g"t rapid 8 $pper in t"e waste "ierarc"8, s$c" as state of t"e art met"anisation p ants and bio ogica treatment faci ities as ong as t"e sites c"osen for s$c" faci ities are c"osen wit" care and respect a t"e essentia components of pro>ect management set o$t abo<e as regards oca comm$nities. IV. Recommendations 4earing t"e abo<e considerations in mind, t"e Petitions #ommittee ca s $pon t"e responsib e a$t"orities and t"e #ommission to ta;e note of t"e fo owing recommendations% 1. A nationa compre"ensi<e p an for imp ementing an effecti<e waste "ierarc"8 is necessar8 in<o <ing t"e acti<e participation of oca , regiona and nationa a$t"orities and representati<es of ci<i societ8, w"ere red$ction of "o$se"o d waste and impro<ed sorting met"ods are introd$ced, enab ing more efficient rec8c ing processes to f$nction. (n t"is conte9t f$ consideration m$st be gi<en to a t8pes of waste disposa at t"e end of t"e waste c8c e eading to a mar;ed red$ction in dependenc8 on andfi s and t"e de<e opment of efficient and c ean faci ities and waste2energ8 p ants or ot"er s$itab e and s$stainab e met"ods of disposa .

2. Simp 8 con<erting i ega d$mpsites into ega andfi s does not so <e t"e str$ct$ra prob em, as t"e8 ie at t"e bottom of t"e += waste "ierarc"8 and pose ma>or economic, socia and en<ironmenta b$rden. (t is s$ggested t"at a ternati<e tec"no ogies and integrated waste management s8stems are $sed $pper in t"e "ierarc"8 set b8 t"e 3irecti<e 20082D82+#, adapted to t"e specia needs and reJ$irements of eac" ocation. 3. Moreo<er, an8 re<ision of t"e a read8 committed *200A-2013/ and potentia 8 new *20142020/ += f$nding m$st be s$b>ect to a c"ange of approac" in t"is sense, and foremost to meeting t"e c$rrent += en<ironmenta and waste-specific egis ation. !"is app ies in partic$ ar in t"e case of Grammati;o, w"ere in t"e, needed according t"e #omm$nit8 .aw, *3irecti<e 2008212+#- (PP#/ re<ision of t"e +(A report and conseJ$ent 8 of t"e +n<ironmenta Permit *w"ic" is eJ$a to t"e term #onstr$ction Permit/, t"e newest += egis ation and t"e best a<ai ab e tec"niJ$es s"o$ d be ta;en into acco$nt. (n t"is sense, t"e comp iance wit" t"e "ig"est safet8 standards and t"e most stringent preca$tionar8 meas$res against an8 sorts of ris; for t"e "$man "ea t" and en<ironment s"o$ d be proper 8 assessed. 4. A t"ese en<ironmenta and economic considerations m$st be respected to t"e f$ and t"e se ection of andfi ocations m$st be p$b ic 8 >$stified b8 scientific st$dies on an e9ante basis, a owing for f$ access to information and a gen$ine p$b ic participation s"o$ d be ab e to consider a ternati<e options. 3etai ed geo ogica ana 8ses on t"e concerned area m$st be carried and a possib e so$rces of water po $tion m$st be t"oro$g" 8 assessed. !"e impact in terms of costs and emissions of t"e transport of waste to t"e sites m$st be a so a factor $nder consideration. B. !"e detection of streams in t"e area of t"e Grammati;o andfi before starting t"e pro>ect, toget"er wit" t"e recent e<idence of waste and eac"ates po$ring into t"e sea, s"o$ d be s$b>ect to a moratori$m of t"e wor;s w"i e an inJ$ir8 ta;es p ace, in order to reassess t"e appropriateness of t"e ocation. I. !a;ing into consideration t"at strong concerns "a<e been raised b8 specia i)ed geo ogica instit$tions abo$t t"e ris; for $ndergro$nd water b8 t"e operation of .ef;immi andfi , and ta;ing into consideration t"e findings on t"e fie d abo$t t"e same ris;s, we in<o;e t"e preca$tionar8 princip e and we reJ$est t"e carr8 o$t of appropriate on fie d tec"nica assessment, b8 independent e9perts, before an8 ot"er action is rea i)ed. A. 7egarding .ef;immi, w"ic" is a so p aced in t"e midd e of an agric$ t$ra area and in partic$ ar o i<e trees, and ta;ing into acco$nt serio$s d8sf$nctions of e9isting simi ar t8pes of andfi s and t"e ris;s for serio$s incidents and ris;s cited in t"e st$d8 of geo ogica researc" instit$te, we recommend app 8ing t"e preca$tionar8 princip e, and not p$t it into operation. 8. G"ereas t"e se<era >$diciar8 appea s in t"e different co$rt e<e s "a<e certain 8 de a8ed t"e imp ementation of some of t"e pro>ects presented b8 Gree; a$t"orities to t"e #ommission, it m$st be pointed o$t t"at t"e e9ercise of t"e egitimate rig"t of see;ing >$dicia redress cannot in an8 case be considered t"e root ca$se e9p aining t"e ag in conformit8 to += waste egis ation in Greece. D. !"e $se of modern tec"no og8 and state of t"e art tec"nica met"ods in t"e constr$ction of waste management wor;s, in order to ens$re t"at safe wor;s t"at are en<ironmenta 8

sec$re are constr$cted. #oncrete 8, for instance in Grammati;o and Car<o$nari t"at proper bore"o es are p$t in f$nction for t"e co ection of water samp es to determine w"et"er t"ere are ea;ages to gro$ndwater and t"erefore a ris; to p$b ic "ea t". !"e res$ ts of t"e samp es s"o$ d be made p$b ic 8 a<ai ab e. A moratori$m s"o$ d be estab is"ed on t"eir $se w"i e f$rt"er more conc $si<e c"ec;s are cond$cted to estab is" t"eir stat$s and t"e e9tent2potentia contamination of gro$ndwater. S"o$ d s$c" a ris; become apparent, t"e sites s"o$ d be immediate 8 c osed. 10. !"e +$ropean #ommission s"o$ d imp ement a more co"esi<e po ic8 in contro ing t"e $se of f$nds disb$rsed and t"ro$g" reinforced inspection capacit8 e9ercise c ose monitoring, e<ent$a 8 a so t"ro$g" on site- <isits. A so, t"e +$ropean #ommission s"o$ d be sensiti<e and inter<ene, in accordance wit" its ob igation $nder 3irecti<e 8B233A2++#, in cases w"ere t"ere are indications of manifest errors in design and constr$ction of co-financed pro>ects, before t"ese pro>ects are comp eted and ca$se damage to t"e en<ironment and waste of p$b ic f$nds. 11. Gaste management m$st be promoted as an essentia part of economic de<e opment, in<o <ing t"e pri<ate and p$b ic sectors, and become t"e ob>ect of a consens$s at po itica e<e . (f s$c" po icies are seen to be di<isi<e or po itica 8 moti<ated t"e8 cannot obtain p$b ic s$pport nor t"e confidence of citi)ens. An8 po itica e9p oitation of t"e gen$ine concern on waste management iss$es b8 citi)ens and t"eir c aim for s$stainab e en<ironmenta so $tions m$st be stopped and instead a nationa pact for s$stainab e waste management s"o$ d be s$bscribed b8 t"e different po itica parties. 12. !a;ing into consideration, t"at citi)ens "a<e fi ed Petitions regarding t"e tota 8 $nacceptab e sit$ation in F8 i, w"ic" we wi re<iew as soon as possib e, and t"at t"e degradation of t"e en<ironment in F8 i wi remain a mon$ment of en<ironmenta ma8"em, sic;ness and "$man s$ffering at east for t"e ne9t 3 generations i<ing in t"e areaE Ge reJ$est from t"e Gree; a$t"orities and t"e +$ropean #ommission, to promote t"e immediate performance, b8 independent internationa instit$tions, of to9ico ogica and epidemio ogica st$dies on t"e pop$ ation of t"e m$nicipa it8 of F8 i. 13. For f$t$re waste management faci ities, s$itab e and appropriate ocations s"o$ d be identified based $pon ob>ecti<e scientific and socio ogica criteria. !"e decisions on ocations, m$st in e<er8 case and wit"o$t e9ception ens$re t"e proper imp ementation of += egis ations and directi<es regarding waste, and be based e9c $si<e 8 on tec"nica criteria. (t is cr$cia t"at t"e Ministr8?s +n<ironmenta inspectors are a owed to do and conc $de t"eir wor; and report independent 8 and in good time for effecti<e decisions to be ta;en wit"o$t $nd$e de a8. 14. (t is of $tmost importance to p$t in practice a transparenc8 approac" concerning waste management, and partic$ ar 8 towards pop$ ation potentia 8 affected b8 sites and new pro>ects, and inc $de t"em in t"e decision-ma;ing process. 1B. Gaste management s"o$ d be seen as a great opport$nit8 to boost emp o8ment, bot" at t"e e<e of e9pertise d$ring p anning, constr$ction and operation of t"e faci ities, as we as at t"e e<e of rec8c ing waste. F$t$re waste management p ans s"o$ d ta;e t"is aspect into acco$nt in e<er8 case. (n t"e c$rrent conte9t of economic crisis, red$ction of waste owers t"e management costs for p$b ic and pri<ate b$dgets w"ereas sorting enab es new reso$rces and raw materia s at ow cost.

1I. Fina 8, wit" regard to t"e c$rrent proced$re instit$ted b8 t"e #ommission against Greece before t"e #o$rt of t"e +$ropean =nion, t"is wi most probab 8 ead to t"e imposition of fines for non-comp iance wit" ob igations arising from egis ation and2 or from a pre<io$s >$dgement. !"e #ommission s"o$ d be caref$ to accompan8 its efforts wit" rea financia incenti<es rat"er t"an on 8 fines for non-comp iance. +specia 8 at t"ese economica 8 dire times for Greece, it wo$ d be most cond$ci<e if t"e amo$nts eJ$a to t"e possib e fines were disb$rsed to finance in<estment on s$stainab e waste management pro>ects and pre<enti<e meas$res to red$ce waste in Greece.