During a conference of the Mediterranean SOS Network on the occasion of the completion of the European project LIFE AMMOS “Integrated campaign to reduce smoking litter on the beaches”, the head of the European Delegation Commission in Greece Panos Karvounis stated that “Our country lives from tourism”, while he added that It is imperative to protect our shores with a policy directly related to the management of waste and urban waste”.

In his speech the head of the European Delegation Commission also stressed that the issue is not only financial and environmental but political as well and must be treated jointly.

At the same time Mr. Karvounis stressed that the European Commission is in constant dialogue to address marine debris by applying a set of measures that could have very significant results, especially those concerning citizen and consumer awareness.

He further described with figures all projects that have been founded at European level reaching a total of  4.000 projects worth 3.5 billion euro, while stressing that only in Greece 220 projects have been funded by half worth 300 million.

In conclusion Mr. Karvounis noted that the new Life program aims at supporting sustainable development and not only environmental actions, but climate as well with provision for an additional 3.5 billion euro.