12-07-16 Pelegrinis dicusses Munich Greek school with Vice-Mayor Josef Schmid
Deputy Education Minister Theodosis Pelegrinis is taking action to restore the trust – shaken by the actions of previous Greek governments - of the Municipality of Munich in its Greek interlocutors, regarding the construction of a Greek school in Munich.
Minister Pelegrinis on 11 July held talks in Munich with Vice-Mayor Josef Schmid, head of the department of labour and economic development, regarding the resumption of construction of the Greek school in Munich. This was Pelegrini’s second visit to the Bavarian capital in four months.
Vice-Mayor Schmid expressed his love for the Greek people and his keen interest in the completion of the school building.
But Schmid also underlined the gravity of developments, as the Munich City Council has already decided to reclaim the lot of land on which construction had already advanced, on the grounds that the Greek side had not met its contractual obligations.
Mr. Schmid offered assurances that he will engage in efforts to return to the Greek side the land on which the school construction had already commenced, so as to complete the project.
The Greek delegation included Ioanna Kontouli, president of the state Buildings Infrastructure S.A. company, which is charged with the construction of public buildings, including the Munich school, along with legal advisors Messrs. Karagounis and Konstantinidis, and Greece’s Consul General in Munich, Panagiota Konstantinopoulou.
The main issue now, according to Mr. Schmid, is the restoration of German trust toward the Greek side. The vice-mayor said he is willing to undertake a last-ditch effort to reverse the city council’s decision and to return the land to the Greek side for construction of the school to be completed.
To that end, Vice-Mayor Schmid made the following proposals:
- The Greek state Infrastructure S.A. company should submit by Friday, 15 July a dossier that supports in a credible and feasible manner that the unimpeded and stable funding of the construction project is secured, as well as a roadmap for the progress of the work until final completion.
- The Greek side should come in contact with the parties on the city council in an effort to regain trust and persuade them that without delay and with unswerving determination all necessary actions will be taken in order to complete construction.
The Greek side offered assurances that Athens will strictly adhere to Vice-Mayor Schmid’s proposals.
If developments proceed as outlined at the Munich meeting, Schmid offered a commitment that he will recommend to the City Council on 20 July that they reverse their previous decision on the return of the property to the Bavarian side.
