In his message for the World Environment Day, Shipping Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis noted the following: “For our country that has a large number of islands, the safeguarding of the sea environment is not only a target, it is a priority. For this reason the Shipping and Aegean Ministry participates actively in the protection of the sea and the coastlines. With their training and with the high sense of responsibility, Coast Guard’s officials are leading the struggle for the protection of Greece’s sea wealth.”

Mr. Varvitsiotis added that “we are all aware that the protection of the environment is closely related to the country’s progress and prosperity, something that we need today more than ever. A green economy will lead to the enhancement of the human prosperity and of the social justice and will minimize the environmental risk”.

Concluding, Varvitsiotis stressed in his message:”On the occasion of the World Environment Day for 2014, let us all try to get involved in volunteer actions that contribute to the protection of the sea environment, to take responsibility and to unite our forces towards the protection of the environment. Finally, we should never forget that the protection of our planet is a major challenge for all mankind”.