The presidents of research centers and technological bodies for the Observatory are also opposed

The Conference of Presidents emphasizes that “the secondment of one of its members will cripple it and significantly disrupt its functioning mechanisms”.

The Synod of the Presidents of Research Centers and Technological Organizations expresses its disagreement with the imminent subordination of the National Observatory of Athens (EAA) to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection with its announcement – letter.

The Summit of Presidents of Research Centers and Technological Organizations, among others, in its letter emphasizes that “a network of collaborations and joint initiatives has already been established, many of them of an emblematic dimension, such that the removal of one of its members will cripple it and significantly disrupt the its operating mechanisms”.

At the same time, he points out that “Research Centers can only effectively fulfill their role towards the State and society in an academic environment that ensures the conditions for conducting independent and uninfluenced research”, while adding that “their inclusion in a purely operational framework it negates their mission, dehydrates them and deprives them of the means, but also the enthusiasm that distinguishes scientists in their quest for new knowledge”.

In addition, among other things, it underlines that “cooperation between Research Centers and Operational Agencies could alternatively be based on the creation of an advisory body, of the OASP type, for issues related to the climate crisis and subsequent natural disasters, as indeed defined by Article 41 of Law 4662/2020, which has not yet been activated. Therefore, there have already been legislative initiatives of the State, which can lead to the intended result, as long as they are activated”.

It also states that “in the spring of 2022, official meetings of at least some research bodies (e.g. EAA, ELKETHE) were held with the NSPA staff structure of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection (YKKPP), in which official actors of the ministry also participated. In the meetings, the possibilities that the EC have for cooperation and support of the Ministry were mentioned in detail, without any follow-up”, and he adds that “a few months later there were contacts with Expertise France, which had undertaken to help with the organization of the YKKPP” as also meetings with researchers dealing with issues related to Civil Protection and designated by the Research Centers. However, he points out that “this initiative doesn’t seem to have come anywhere at least to date”.

Finally, he concludes that “the detachment of the National Observatory of Athens from this research ecosystem has nothing to offer the Greek State and society, on the contrary, it will seriously weaken the very important work that it can offer to our country”.

The matter has caused strong reactions from the National Observatory. With a long announcement-catalyst about the governmental methods of control of the National Observatory of Athens, the director and chairman of the Board of Directors. of EAA, Professor Manolis Pleionis, a few days ago, cited the basic and essential reasons why the legislative initiative in question “will be from extremely damaging to even disastrous for EAA (depending on the extent of the affiliation)”.