The issue of the islands does not concern only Greece, but the whole Europe, Alternate Economy and Development Minister Alexis Charitsis said on Monday in a statement to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) during the 13th Regional Development Conference of South Aegean held in Rhodes.
Charitsis said that Special Development Programmes for North and South Aegean amounting to 102 million euros are underway. Specifically, more than 100 projects are carried out in the regions while additional interventions of 77 million euros are funded by other programmes run by the ministry.
“Because of their geographical location and their particular social and economic characteristics, the Aegean islands face increased challenges, which require special care from the side of the state. As a finance ministry we are implementing a comprehensive plan to support them, providing substantial funding and specialized technical support,” he underlined.
The Special Development Plans of the North and South Aegean, amounting to 102 million euros, are at the heart of this effort, he said.