Citizens' Dialogue online in Greece with Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius

The event took place in a fully digital format and was live-streamed from a virtual studio in Athens. It was broadcasted on the Rep’s social media, while it featured in the leading newspaper ‘Kathimerini’ as well as the central news channel ERT1.

There were 13 participants, 12 of them in Athens and one at the small island of Chalki, while the journalist who was moderating the dialogue was at the studio in Athens.

The participants included representatives from NGOs (ARCTUROS, ARCHELON, AllForBlue, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, MEDASSET, Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation); representatives from international organizations (United Nations Environment Programme’s Mediterranean Action Plan, Council of Europe), social start ups (ENALEIA), an actor and a chef and young participants (university and high school students)

There was interpretation in English and Greek as well as in sign language.

Questions from online participants covered a range of topics: the biodiversity loss caused by renewable projects placed on soils of high ecological value; plastic concentration in seas and oceans, and the ensuing threat to biodiversity; the future of fossil fuels; food waste and local consumption; sustainable agricultural practices and renewable energy systems, as well as mainstreaming education about climate change in schools.

A couple of participants raised the issue of Greece’s Natura protected areas being destroyed by large-scale wind farms. This was an example of biodiversity loss which also stressed the importance of the voice of local communities in the green transition. The participants asked whether the Commission has plans to toughen up the positioning rules of renewable energy sites in order to protect biodiversity.

Many participants raised the issue of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean sea, its threat to biodiversity and Greek turtle species and the threat to fishing income. This last point was raised from a high school student coming from a family of fishermen in the small Aegean island of Chalki.

Participants also asked whether we should professional fishermen in circular economy blue schemes, such upcycling of the waste collected at sea by them.

A professional chef asked about Europe’s plan on food waste, and how we can mobilise private actors to find solutions.

Participants further asked on the possibility of mainstreaming climate change education across European primary and secondary schools.