DG REGIO Director-General Nicola de Michelis visits Crete

Nicola de Michelis, Director-General for Regional and Urban Policy at the European Commission (DG REGIO), met with the Regional Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis, to discuss the management of regional development programs.

During the meeting, Arnaoutakis emphasized the necessity of allowing European regions to manage their own development programs rather than relying on central administration. He noted that cohesion policy serves to bring European citizens closer to the EU, regardless of whether they live in rural villages or large cities. Arnaoutakis also informed de Michelis that the Hellenic Committee of Regions (ENPE) has reached a unanimous decision in Greece to advocate for the regional management of all development programs.

De Michelis was accompanied by Panagiotis Pantazatos, Head of the Cyprus-Greece Department at DG REGIO, and official Elena Banava. The visit included a tour of the new Region of Crete building and meetings with various stakeholders.