KEDE responds to minister's remarks on fire protection fund use

The Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) has responded to statements by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas, who pointed to delays in fund utilization for fire protection by some municipalities. KEDE stated that the Ministry of Interior made this year's fire protection funding available on March 17, less than 45 days before the fire season begins on May 1.

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meaning less than 45 days before the start of the fire season which begins on May 1.

Despite tight deadlines and public procurement procedures, KEDE asserted that the vast majority of municipalities have effectively utilized the allocated funds for fire protection measures. The union described the case of a municipality that received 400,000 euros but had not yet commissioned fire protection work as an isolated incident, noting that even that municipality has since proceeded with necessary work.

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the overwhelming majority of municipalities for the current fire season have absorbed and utilized the money that the State approved and allocated to us in effective fire protection actions.

KEDE urged Minister Tournas to acknowledge that the state funding provided for fire protection significantly falls short of the actual costs. While funding has increased, the amounts cover only about 30-40% of the real expenses. Municipalities are forced to cover the remaining costs with their own resources, diverting funds from other essential urban projects.

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the case of the municipality that received funding of 400,000 euros and had not proceeded with the award of the fire protection project was a unique one and cannot characterize all municipalities.

The union emphasized that the central government has transferred responsibility for fire protection without fully covering the associated costs. KEDE also pointed out that major fires do not typically start in areas managed by municipalities but often originate outside municipal boundaries, spreading into urban areas. They noted that other authorities are rarely held accountable in such instances, while local government is frequently targeted.

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the funding of municipalities provided by the State for fire protection actions significantly lags behind the actual cost of the work required and performed each year, according to what is defined by legislation.