Unsustainable water and industrial waste management in Greece, Brussels - Main contents

© Kevin Bergenhenegouwen

Conference

Room A1G2, European Parliament, Brussels

Wednesday, 15 April 2009, 09.00

AGENDA

09.45 Registration

10.00- 10.30 Welcome. Purpose: To welcome the participants, to outline the objectives and to focus the participants on the issues to be addressed

Projection of videos/ photographs/power points from the sites of Asopos /Koronia/ Korinthiakos

Welcome by

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  Ms Monica Frassoni (co-President of the EP Greens)
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  Mr Michalis Tremopoulos (Top Candidate of the Ecologists Greens for the European Elections)
• - 

  Father Giannis Oikonomides, Institute for Sustainable Development / Citizens for Sustainability, Oinofyta, Viotia.

The Conference objectives by

Nikos Chrysogelos (Ecologists Greens National Committee, Third Candidate of the Ecologists Greens for the European Elections)

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10.30-11.00: Press conference (parallel media event) by:

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  Ms Monica Frassoni, co-President of the EP Greens
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  Mr Philippe Lamberts, spokesperson of European Green Party
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  Mr Thanassis Panteloglou, MSc. Chemist/Chemical Engineer, President of the Institute for Sustainable Development, Oinofyta, Viotia
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  Mrs Maria Vitoraki, Coordinator of the Thematic Group "Environment-Water"-Ecologists Greens

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10:30-11:50 Session A: The "Asopos Tragedy" (Room A1G2)

EN- Interpretation available in EL, DA, DE , FR

Moderators: Mrs Kathalijne Buitenweg (Member of the European Parliament- Greens), Mrs Margarita Karavassili , ex-General director of Environmental Inspectorate

Rapporteur: Lampros Bouklis (Thematic Group Environment, Ecologists Greens)

10:30-10:40 "The Tragedy of Asopos: a story to be told", Father Giannis Oikonomides, Citizens for Sustainability, Oinofyta, Viotia.

10:40-10.50 "The Response of Local Comunities to Industrial Contamination of Asopos river basin", Alexandros Xezonotos, ASOPOS SOS, "OIKOLOGIO" blog.

10:50-11:00 "Effects on Human Health stemming from Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium", Dr Fotini Malandrinou, Associate director in charge - Department of Endocrinology, St. Savvas Anti-Cancer Hospital.

11.00-11:10  "Greek's Cancer Villages", Thanassis Panteloglou, MSc. Chemist/Chemical Engineer, President of the Institute for Sustainable Development, Oinofyta, Viotia.

 11.10-11.20: "How to (not) apply the E.U. environmental legislation", Dr. Yannis Ktistakis, Lecturer of International and European Law, Democritus University of Thrace 

11.20-11.30 "Pollution of Asopos (river and land): The infringement of EC Environmental Law by the Greek competent authorities", Dr George Balias, Lawyer

11.30-11.45 (speaker tbc) European Commission, DG ENVI, Unit B3 (Biotechnology, Pesticides & Health)

11.45-12.00 Questions & Answers

12.00-12.10 Coffee break

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12:10- 12.55 Session B: The Current Status of Water and Waste (Mis)- Management in Asopos watershed  (Room A1G2)

EN- Interpretation available in EL, DA, DE , FR

Moderators: Green MEP (tbc) - Nikos Chrysogelos, Ecologists Greens National Committee

Rapporteur: Yorgos Xatzinikolaou (Hellenic Centre for Marine Research)

12.10-12.20 "Water pollution: No1 environmental priority", Dr ?annis Zabetakis, Assistant Professor of Food Chemistry and Lead Auditor

12.20-12.30 "Environmental Licenses & Certifications  (ISO14001) / Registrations (EMAS) at the polluted industrial & residential, Asopos river area. Who will pay the remediation cost?", Labros Bouklis, Thematic Group Environment- Ecologists Greens

12:30-12:45 (tbc) European Commission-DG ENVI, Unit D2 (Protection of Water and Marine Environment)

12.45-12.55: Q & A

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12:55 - 14:00 Session C: The Three Crimes: "Asopos pollution, the "Death" of Lake Koronia, the continued Pollution of Korinthiakos Gulf from industrial discharges and agricultural run-off" (Room A1G2)

EN- Interpretation available in EL, DA, DE , FR

Moderators: Green MEP (tbc) -   Father Giannis Oikonomides

Rapporteur:   Dr. Yannis Ktistakis, Lecturer of International and European Law, Democritus University of Thrace  

12.55 – 13:05 "Pollution of Korinthiakos Gulf", Vassilis Kellaris, Citizens Initiative of Korinthiakos

13.05-13:15 "Culprit wanted for two environmental crimes: the Asopos River and the Koronia Lake", Dr. Yorgos Chatzinikolaou, Potamologist, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Inland Waters

13.15-13:30 "The death of Lake Koronia – Political and environmental responsibilities", Michalis Tremopoulos, top candidate of Ecologists Greens, Greece

13.30- 13:50 (tbc) European Commission- Commissioner Dimas*

13:50- 14:00 Q & A                                        

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15.00- 15.30 Session D:  Interventions by MEPs, Local authorities, NGOs, experts, participants (Room A1E201)

EN only

Moderators: Green MEP (tbc), Maria Vitoraki   

15.30-16.40 Round table / Discussion

Moderator: Pierre Jonckheer, Green MEP

• - 

  Maria Vitoraki, Thematic Group Environment- Ecologists Greens
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  Thanassis Panteloglou, MSc. Chemist/Chemical Engineer, President of the Institute for Sustainable Development
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  Margarita Karavasili, ex-director of Environmental Inspectorate
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  Axel Singhofen, Greens/ EFA advisor

16.40-17.00 " Citizens rights and exposure to Hexavalent Chromium", Video Intervention by Erin Brockovich, Environmental activist, Attorney at Law     

17.00- 17.15 - "Conclusions Drawn from Six Days Broadcasting for the Pollution of Asopos-The experience of the two days in EP for Asopos", George Keramitzoglou , Journalist, SKY Radio

17.15-17.25 Conclusions by Nikos Chrysogelos , Ecologists Greens National Committee and Margarita Karavassili , ex-General director of Environmental Inspectorate