As part of the implementation of the European THEMIS Project, an online meeting was held in October 2025 with the participation of the Municipality of Aegina, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, and the Civil Protection Institute of the University of Western Macedonia.
During the meeting, the results of previous actions were reviewed, local initiatives of the Municipality of Aegina for the summer period were presented, and ways to enhance public awareness and training of residents and tourists on civil protection matters were discussed. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and the use of modern technological tools that allow timely risk assessment.
Furthermore, it was agreed to collect detailed information from the Municipality of Aegina regarding civil protection procedures and disaster risk management, as well as to compile a list of interested stakeholders to participate in the project’s questionnaires.
Finally, an in-person meeting with the Municipality of Aegina was scheduled for October or November 2025, aiming to further strengthen cooperation and coordinate future actions to enhance operational readiness and information dissemination in tourist areas.
Online Meeting
Date: Monday, 6 October 2025
Platform: Zoom Link
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Participants
- Mr. Ioannis Bakouros, Director, Civil Protection Institute
- Ms. Amalia Kouskoura, Civil Protection Institute
- Ms. Eleni Kalliontzi, Civil Protection Institute
- Ms. Olga Petriti, Deputy Mayor for Tourism, Municipality of Aegina
- Ms. Nektaria Sarantou, Special Advisor to the Mayor on Tourism, Municipality of Aegina
Note: The General Secretariat for Civil Protection could not participate due to official obligations.
The online meeting began with an introductory presentation by the Civil Protection Institute (CPI), with the participation of researchers Ms. Amalia Kouskoura and Ms. Eleni Kalliontzi, as well as the Director of the Institute, Professor Ioannis Bakouros. During the presentation:
- Detailed conclusions from the 16 July 2025 meeting were presented, which had been missed by the Municipality of Aegina officials due to professional obligations.
- The value of public awareness through information campaigns and educational programs was emphasized.
- The need for continuous monitoring of actions and recording their impact on the local community was highlighted.
- The importance of strengthening collaborations with local stakeholders and tourism businesses for optimal information dissemination was underscored.
Subsequently, the Municipality of Aegina, represented by Ms. Olga Petriti, Deputy Mayor for Tourism, presented the Municipality’s actions during the summer period, including information campaigns, training programs for residents and tourists, and risk management initiatives. Examples of good practices and effective emergency response methods were shared, while the need for continuous improvement of procedures and coordination among stakeholders was emphasized.
The meeting concluded with a creative open discussion focused on planning future actions for public awareness and enhancing training in the tourism sector. Participants stressed the importance of adopting targeted strategies so that information and educational programs effectively reach both residents and visitors of tourist areas.
As part of the next steps, it was agreed that the Municipality of Aegina would provide a complete and detailed file containing all civil protection procedures, risk management protocols, and good practices already implemented. This file will serve as a key tool for evaluating current practices and supporting new actions.
Additionally, the creation of an extensive list of interested stakeholders to participate in the THEMIS project questionnaires was decided. This collection will ensure comprehensive and targeted data gathering, enabling more accurate analysis of needs and priorities in the tourism sector.
The next in-person meeting was scheduled for October or November 2025 at the Municipality of Aegina, with the main goal of evaluating actions to date, coordinating new initiatives, and strengthening cooperation among stakeholders to ensure operational readiness and informed participation of all parties involved in civil protection matters.