George Patoulis: We support Elefsina and the wider region through major projects of tens of millions of EUR, to see it transformed. This event will leave an indelible cultural impact on Europe.
During the meeting with the members of the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) of the European Parliament in the Elefsina Town Hall, in the presence of the Mayor of Elefsina, Mr Argyris Economou, the Regional Governor of Attica expressed the willingness of the Region of Attica to continue supporting Elefsina as a Cultural Capital of Europe, as well as cultural projects in both the city and the wider region.
The purpose of the meeting that was held in the framework of the Commission’s fact-finding visit to Elefsina, one of the cities that holds the title of the European Capital of Culture in 2023, was to discuss about the cultural policy of the Region of Attica in general, the legacy of the European Capital of Culture in the area, as well as the potential collaborations with other cultural stakeholders from all over the EU.
The meeting was also attended by the Regional Vice Governor of Western Attica, Mr L. Kosmopoulos, the Regional Vice Governor for Culture, Mr C. Romas, the Managing Director of Eleusis 2023, Ms S. Spiropoulou, the Head of the Managing Authority of the Region of Attica, Mr D. Drossis, the Director of Technical Works of the Region of Attica, Mr A. Kalogeropoulos and the Artistic Director of the “Elefsina Capital of Culture 2023”, Mr M. Marmarinos.
After welcoming Mr Patoulis, the Mayor of Elefsina, Mr Argyris Economou personally thanked the Regional Governor of Attica and the executives of the Region of Attica for supporting the implementation of a “challenging undertaking”, namely the organisation of the European Capital of Culture. In this respect, Mr Economou pointed out that the Region of Attica financed important projects and infrastructure as well as the Municipality of Elefsina itself in order to contribute to the success of this effort.
Ms Spyropoulou and Mr Marmarinos expressed heartfelt thanks to the Regional Governor of Attica, for effectively and efficiently supporting each stage of the project.
George Patoulis: We aspire to make the wider region a true European metropolis of culture.
After welcoming the delegation of the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) of the European Parliament and thanking them for their presence, Mr Patoulis expressed his conviction that “Elefsina, one of the cities that holds the title of the European Capital of Culture in 2023, will leave its indelible impact on the cultural events of the whole country and Europe”, while stating that the Region of Attica financed, through the Attica ROP 2014-2020, important projects to support the Capital of Culture.
Thereupon, Mr Patoulis referred to the restoration and promotion of the archaeological site of Elefsina, with a budget of EUR 1,65 million, as well as to the financing of ancillary works at the Plutonion Monument and the Telestyreum Sanctuary, with an additional allocation of EUR 650,000.00
“We will further support works of culture in the city, such as the exploitation of the old olive grove and the connection of the archaeological site of Eleusis with the Acropolis through Iera Odos street”.
In Western Attica, we will finance 90 projects with over 400 million EUR.
In referring to the development of the wider region, Mr Patoulis said that the Region of Attica has a holistic plan with a view to relaunching growth in Western Attica, with emphasis on flood protection projects, solid waste management and infrastructure upgrading.
“In Western Attica, the Region of Attica will allocate a budget of EUR 410,7 million to finance 90 projects, including those relating to Elefsina, such as rainwater sewerage projects, coastal regeneration and the upgrading of the section of the Old National Road to Megara”, stated the Regional Governor of Attica, while adding that the title of the European Capital of Culture in 2023 could be an effective means of bringing Elefsina to the fore.
Funding for culture is to be increased over the next period.
Concluding his intervention and referring to the strategic plan of the Region of Attica with regard to the promotion of the cultural capital of Attica, Mr Patoulis stressed that it constitutes a fundamental pillar of the regional strategic planning and a substantial investment in the context of sustainable development. In this context, Mr Patoulis made the following statement:
The Region of Attica allocated EUR 61 million for 24 projects, through the ROP Attica 2014-2020, to enhance and promote the metropolitan cultural infrastructure, as well as EUR 13,7 million for 13 activities pertaining to contemporary culture. In the new programming period 2021-2027 further funding is to be provided for interventions and actions in the field of culture. Culture is not a luxury, but a key determinant of well-being.