During a special teleconference, in which the Mayors of the Region of Attica participated, the Governor of the Region of Attica, Mr. Giorgos Patoulis, presented the Region and “New Metropolitan Attica SA”, Attica Region Developmental Organization, along with the basic design pillars of the new Attica Regional Operational Program, co-funded by the EU Cohesion Funds 2021 – 2027.

Present at the teleconference was the President of the “New Metropolitan Attica SA” Board of Directors, Mr. Nikos Papageorgiou; the Vice President, Mr. Petros Mamalakis; the CEO Mr. Iossif Parsalis; the Technical Service Director, Mr. Kostas Floros, and the Regional Council Chairperson, Mr. Dimitris Drosis, who presented the axes of the new 2021-2027 Regional Operational Programme.

Mr. Patoulis presented the vision of the Development Organization as: “The creation of a central supporting mechanism of municipal, inter-municipal and specifically local character for the 66 municipalities of the Region of Attica. In New Metropolitan Attica, the municipalities will find a partner of strategic importance and a basic interlocutor as the Organization will constitute a key lever for the progress of projects at a local level and for securing necessary and appropriate funding.”

He also stressed that the Development Organization will work in cooperation with the respective municipal bodies and promote actions and inter-municipal collaboration aimed at launching large scale developmental projects, such as electrically powered transport and energy communities, both axes currently generating a considerable amount of interest even at a national level. He underlined the goal not to leave any funding tool unexplored and that, in cooperation with the municipalities, they would “proceed with strategy and unity, targeting the reinforcement of the developmental potential of local communities.”.

Delineating its targets and action axes, the President of the Developmental Organization, Mr. Nikos Papageorgiou, highlighted the 9 pillars and key sectors to which it will devote its focus, namely Tourism & Extroversion, Culture - Sports - Education, Entrepreneurship & Investment, Environment and Quality of Life, Health, Digital Transition/Era, Transportation, Technical Projects (maturation of projects) and Social Care & Support. He clarified that: “The Developmental Organization is here for projects. Each Municipality has its own needs, its own unique characteristics and issues it shares with bordering municipalities based on geographical or thematic criteria. Therefore, each municipality has to be dealt with individually. Consequently, it is important to become properly acquainted with each one and facilitate its work. This is the most important contribution of New Metropolitan Attica.”

The Vice President, Mr. Petros Mamalakis, also stressed that the municipalities have clearly defined needs resulting from urban planning, geographical, demographic and other factors driving projects of varying speeds and scales. The Developmental Organization has the potential of a multi-level and spherical approach to finding solutions to challenges and the path to successful completion of projects of the highest importance to each municipality.

The presentation was closed by the CEO Mr. Iossif Parsalis, who stated: “The establishment of the basic design and funding pillars of the new Attica Regional Operational Program, co-funded by the EU Cohesion Funds 2021 – 2027 and the iconic projects to be conducted and funded clearly signals the dawning of a new era for the Region of Attica. “New Metropolitan Attica SA” will support the broader developmental targets and priorities of the region and will constitute a developmental branch of all its municipalities by utilizing not only the Attica Operational Programme but also all the available funding means and tools on a national and European level, focusing on the particular needs of each municipality. The target is to ensure that all the resources required in each municipality are provided for the maturation of projects, leading to the completion of significant initiatives and the opportunity of showcasing every municipality in an appealing light.”