Brussels, 12/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - The forthcoming Olympic Games in Greece are a threat to the safeguard of a protected natural site in the framework of Community legislation on nature protection. This is what the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) claims. At a press conference organised in Brussels, WWF calls on the Greek authorities to renounce their proposal of, in 2004, constructing a rowing and canoeing centre in Schinias, important coastal wetland which, it says, is home to treasures from the point of view of wild fauna and flora and which should, because of that, be designated as natural site of Community importance, to be protected in the framework of the protected sites of the "Natura 2000" network.
Of the European Commission, WWF asks that it: 1) guarantee EU regional funds used for any Olympic-related construction to be conditional on compliance with EU nature conservation legislation; 2) ensure that the Greek Government proceed, as it should, with the designation of the site of Schinias as special protected are under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and Wild Birds Directive (79/409/EEC); 3) ensure that Greece respects the demands of conservation of these two directives, otherwise that it begin proceedings against the State. The nature defence organisation also urges the European Commissioner for regional policy, Michel Barnier, to look into this issue as member of the International Olympic Committee.
In a press release, WWF stresses that Schinias is one of the rare coastal wetlands existing in countries like Greece, and that, it is home to some 176 species of rare birds, endemic species of flora, one rare and endemic fish species and one of only three remaining "Umbrella Pine" forests in Greece - a habitat classified by the European Union as endangered and a priority for protection. "It should not be used as a construction site for Olympic facilities. Instead, it should be protected under the Habitats Directive to conserve this important part of Europe's heritage. The size and scale of the proposed construction is not compatible with the conservation of the area and is unthinkable in a national park" says Demetres Karavellas, WWF Executive Director in Greece, stressing that alternative solutions exist, such as Lake Yliki.
A source close to the European Commission points out that the Structural Funds do not finance the Olympic Games themselves, but public infrastructures (such as the ring-road around Athens, for example) that also serve the Olympic Games. The funding of the sports facilities being able to come from private sources, there is no reason for the Commission to take it on board. In addition, the granting of structural aid is conditional on assurances that the projects do not infringe Community legislation in the field of the environment, the same source adds.