A response to the presentation of PASOK’s “Black Bible” on government management of Civil Protection was given by the competent ministry, noting “coal the treasure” and saying it is being rejected in practice.
As the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection notes in a statement, “the opposition ignores the fact that the government has substantially strengthened the human resources of the Fire Brigade. Of the approximately 14,000 employees in 2019, we reached 18,000 today. ”
At the same time, they note that “the strengthening of the airfields of the Fire Department is particularly important. Throughout the firefighting season today, they operate daily from 80 to 85 aircraft and helicopters. ” They point out that “the introduction of 112 by the government is a fundamental step for citizens’ safety.”
In detail the announcement of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection:
The new narrative of “PASOK’s Black Bible” proved to be carbon and is rejected in practice:
1. National Crisis and Risk Management Mechanism and Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection
For the first time in the history of the Greek state, there is a public body responsible for all the actions of the disaster management cycle, namely the prevention, preparedness, treatment, restoration and assistance. It is an institutional, given, that removes the country from the logic of fragmentation. While in Europe most countries are still operating with scattered responsibilities and incomplete coordination, Greece jumps forward.
2. Personnel
The opposition ignores the fact that the government has substantially enhanced the human resources of the Fire Brigade. Of the approximately 14,000 employees in 2019, we reached 18,000 today – the largest number in body history. The political choice is clear: stronger, younger and more crowded Fire Brigade, capable of responding to the growing challenges of the climate crisis. Thus staff reinforced by 29%.
Special Forest Enterprises Units (EMMTEE – Forestry) were created after the Eye tragedy in 2018, in response to the need for immediate, specialized intervention. Of the 12 units operating in 2021, we now arrived at 21, covering almost the whole territory. It is a strategic choice that follows international standards (such as hotshots in the US) and proves that the state is not inactive against the challenges, but builds resilience institutions. The political dimension is clear: from the inaction of the past (and the substantial dismantling of the Forestry Fireworks in 1998 under the Government of Mr Simitis), we move on to a permanent, institutionalized force of prevention and repression.
Seasonal firefighters are now signing 8 months, instead of 6 months in force until last year, with the aim of better covering the prolonged firefighting season due to climate crisis, which starts in April and ends in November.
The number of volunteer firefighters this year exceeds 4,900 from 2,130 in 2021, and a significant increase is recorded in the number of civil protection volunteers.
3. Air means – utilization of new technologies
Strengthening the airspace of the Fire Brigade is particularly important. Throughout the firefighting season today they operate daily from 80 to 85 aircraft and helicopters. Their dispersion covers the whole country, based on the risk map. This means a percentage increase of 46% compared to 2019, where they operated only 55-60 volatile media. The difference is political and qualitative: from the few and often unavailable mid -2019, we have reached a modernized fleet that utilizes new technologies and multiple business capabilities.
This year the drones increased from 40 to 87 and offer a critical advantage in immediate fire detection as they detect smoke before even fire. Based on statistics, 90% of fires are extinguished in the first minutes.
Concerning Canadair, the government has succeeded in dealing with the inability of the manufacturer to open the production line in a timely manner to upgrade them through the recovery fund, on which 30/06/2026 has been completed as a result of completion.
4. 112
The establishment of 112 by the government is a fundamental step in the safety of citizens. It saves lives, reduces reaction time, enhances confidence in the state and brings our country in convergence with European Civil Protection. In addition, we are upgrading 112 by adopting modern technologies to immediately inform all citizens who may be at risk.
5. AEGISE program
With the AEGIS program, totaling € 2.16 billion, which utilizes 3 financial sources – recovery fund, NSRF and European Investment Bank – Integrated country shield planning for the total disaster management cycle prevention – preparedness – treatment – rehabilitation:
For the first time, a national database is developed as a single integrated risk and prevention management system, with the ability to gather data and data from all stakeholders involved and their denial through artificial intelligence into operational useful information.
We safeguard our cultural and natural heritage by contracting projects for the surveillance of archaeological sites and national parks with modern fire detection systems.
We ensure that the participants in civil protection participants be strengthened. Bodies have been reinforced with contracting budget actions per body:
The Fire Brigade 650.861.840 €
The Coast Guard 7.356.355 €
The Forest Service 12.104.688 €
The Ministry of Shipping 6,978,000 €
EKAPY 4,958.388 €
ELAS 15.375.883 €
The Ministry of Education 65.760.175
The Ministry of Education 96.104.881 €
We shield the operational capacity of the Fire Brigade by upgrading systems such as Engage.
We strengthen voluntary organizations with equipment through contracts with a total budget of € 2,443,872.60, because volunteering is worth.
6. Plot Cleaning – OTA reinforcement
Based on the medium-term budgetary-acting plan 2025-2028, OTAs are reinforced by seven hundred euros (€ 700,000,000) for civil protection programs, focusing on prevention, readiness and disaster.
For the first time, the procedure for enforcing, certifying and collecting fines for gross plots was implemented in practice. The register of maintenance of preventive fire protection measures was also established. The political dimension is obvious: From yesterday’s tolerance and inaction, we have passed into a strict and measurable framework of responsibility.
7. Risk Assessment
We have legislated the preparation of the National Forest Fire Risk Assessment Charter, for which its scientific training committee was already established and operated, by decision of the Secretary General of Civil Protection, and is expected to have completed its work within the year.
8. Arsoning Criminal Crimes
Impunity is over. This year only more than 300 arrests for arson in forests have been made. The new legislative framework provides for the tightening of the penalties and the existence of a specialist of Appeals, as a supervisor of the Arson Criminal Treatment Directorate. Thanks to the changes we made to the Criminal Code all forest arson penalties are now undermined in prison. That is, they are not suspended or converted in any way. They are accompanied by heavy fines and confiscation of property.
9. Protection of Cultural Environment
The Memorandum of Understanding of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection with the Ministry of Culture adopted a systematic policy of protecting our cultural heritage. 53 autopsies have been implemented and 19 re -inspections in archaeological sites, 13 fire safety studies were checked, 64 Ministry of Culture employees were trained, and through the “AEGIS” program the installation of fire and fire -fire systems are being installed in 21 monuments. At the same time, evacuation exercises have been conducted in Olympia, Delphi and Epidaurus. This option also has a political dimension: it shows that the state is not limited to the formal protection of life and property, but extends the security network to the country’s cultural identity itself, integrating the prevention of national priorities.
10. Upgrading a state -of -the -art assistance frame
A new framework for state relief to citizens and businesses has been set up, with a total of more than nine hundred million euros (€ 900,000,000) in all kinds of grants, allowances and benefits. Specifically, more than four hundred and forty -two million euros (€ 442,000,000) have been given to address the Daniel in Thessaly, corresponding to 29,000 beneficiaries (farmers and businesses) and 2,765 building repair licenses. Further, in 2019, over 182 delineation of affected areas corresponding to 287 smaller or larger scale natural disasters.
11. OASP
Following the actions of the Government and securing funding and in cooperation – for the first time – with the educational and research community, which participates in the two OASP committees, the monitoring of the land and submarine volcanic and seismic activity in the area of Santorini 20 was ensured.
In 2023, the Primary Current Building Control Program was updated. To date, nearly 30,000 prime -in -order prostheses have been issued that relate to the whole territory – with about 80% of the audits involving schools and about 12% hospitals – while expanding the institutional framework of the pre -earthquake control to sports facilities.
Conclusion
Greece does not need disaster and nihilism. He needs vision and tangible works. Those who insist on seeing only darkness, are offended by our efforts, conquests and progress of our society. We continue the collective work with determination and plan.
PASOK: ND’s “Black Bible” for Civil Protection
Earlier, the government’s actions in Civil Protection and Tackling Climate Crisis focused on the presentation of PASOK – KINAL of the ND “Black Bible”, with Harilaou Trikoupis executives launching a fire for government management of natural phenomena.
Speeches were given by Andreas Poulas (Head of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection), Michalis Halaris (Secretary of Civil Protection Department) and Panagiotis Dimopoulos (Secretary of the Environment Department).
“There is no evaluation if the leased aircraft perform as expected. The possibility of upgrading the firefighting media has been lost, “said PASOK -KINAL, Andreas Poulas, adding that” Mitsotakis government protection failed because it was never a priority “.
For his part, Civil Protection Department Secretary Michalis Halaris noted that “we were all positive when the climate crisis and Civil Protection was founded. In practice, a General Secretariat operating without distinct areas is an organization without a spine. “
For his part, the Secretary of the Environment, Panagiotis Dimopoulos, stressed that the government is choosing a policy of communication and not substance. “The government is choosing communication management policy when it is practicing problems with natural disasters. Against the organization and enhancement of the effectiveness of the state mechanism for natural disasters, “he said.