"The environmental dimension of the EU, at this juncture, is an important component of the Conference on the Future of Europe and therefore immediate and coordinated action is required," said Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis addressing the Conference of the Economic and Social Council of Greece titled "Economic and Social Council Public Consultation on the Future of Europe".
The Alternate Minister stressed that "the right to live on a safe planet is an equally important human right. Very ambitious goals have been set to tackle the climate crisis. Goals that transcend the global horizon. We want Europe to become the greenest continent faster than any other part of the world and we believe that we should do that, because Europe is a place where there is democracy and respect for human rights and this is also reflected in our standard of living and quality of climate".
"We have asked European citizens, the Civil Society to tell us in which Europe they want to live and in, which Europe they want their children to grow up, so that we shape this Europe together. It's time for Brussels to remain silent and let the citizens of Europe’s periphery, those who do not participate in the decision-making centers be heard", added Mr. Varvitsiotis.
The Alternate Minister described as important the Economic and Social Council’s contribution, through the incorporation of its views in both the digital platform of the Conference on the Future of Europe and the draft law on climate to be introduced by the Greek government, as it constitutes one of the main pillars for the expression of creative thought but also for the convergence of several agencies that co-shape our common future.
December 4, 2021