“The Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands at the “heart” of development for the Smart Cities through its participation in the ICC programme of the European Commission”
“The Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands at the “heart” of development for the Smart Cities through its participation in the ICC programme of the European Commission”
The Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands, as one of the members of the European Commission’s “100 Intelligent Cities Challenge – ICC” programme, participated in the 1st ICC Conference under the title: “ICC Conference and Mayors Forum”: Towards a green, digital and resilient economy”, which was hosted in the city of Barcelona and within the framework of the organization of the SMART CITY EXPO World Congress.
Our Municipality received particularly flattering and praiseful comments from other cities for the development it presented in such a short period of time in areas such as waste management and the circular economy, electronic citizen service and digital governance, and the energy transition.
In fact, the specific program of the European Commission will be extended for another 30 months and the participation of the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands in the new programme is almost certainly due to the high performance and overall actions it managed to implement during its participation until today.
Some of the actions that were implemented in our Municipality, as part of its participation in the ICC programme, and which brought about the specific flattering comments are indicated:
– The activation of the digital platform for the management of citizens’ requests and the possibility of citizens’ involvement in the improvement of the Municipality. Within two years of its operation, the Services of the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands have resolved over 11,000 citizens’ requests that were submitted electronically.
– The introduction of digital signatures to eliminate bureaucracy and provide faster service to the citizen.
-The creation of already 8 new streams of separate waste collection (batteries, electrical devices, lamps, ink-toner containers, cigarette butts, unexpired medicines, marine litter, used clothes, etc.), which are then directed to alternative management and not to transportation and burial). At the same time, by the end of 2023, the Municipality plans to create, also for the first time, municipal separate collection networks and for additional new waste streams such as cooking fats and oils, plastics/metals, paper, and organic waste.
– The complete decarbonization of the autonomous electrical systems of the islands of Ereikousa and Othonoi, as well as the development of a “smart marina” in the island Mathraki, through the preparation of technical and economic studies for the “Just clean energy transition of Diapontia Islands”.
Deputy Mayor Ms. TZanne also states in her statement:
“We feel proud that the European Commission and all those participating in the specific programme recognize the effort and progress that Corfu has presented to date and speak with flattering words about the actions implemented by our Municipality. The Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands has already begun to transform into what was a programmatic commitment of Meropi Ydraiou: a “Green” and “Smart” Municipality that serves citizens directly, quickly and efficiently, reducing the Municipality’s overall “environmental footprint”, while at the same time offering new services that have a positive sign for every person’s daily life. It is really excellent that the European Commission intends to give us the opportunity again to be part of this specific programme and to continue this important journey for our Municipality and the island of Corfu in general”.
