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The event was welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Mr. Nikolaos Tagaras,

the Secretary General Of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment Mr. Efthymios Bakogiannis, the Secretary General of Natural Environment and Water Management, Mr. Petros Varelidis and the Secretary General of Waste Management Coordination, Mr. Manolis Grafakos, while earlier Mr. Matthew Baldwin met the President of the Green Fund Mr. Stathis Stathopoulos.

The event was attended by representatives of the business community, the academic and research community, and by Civil Society organizations.

The Deputy Minister of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Mr. Nikolaos Tagaras, pointed out in his speech that "the Mission is a great development opportunity which will emerge as a critical parameter for the acceleration of private investment."

The General Secretary of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Efthymios Bakogiannis, stressed the intensive effort of the Ministry of Environment and Energy in the last 2 years for Greek cities to embrace the Mission for cities. Regarding the benefits that will emerge through it in the coming years, he said that 'the market will be motivated to move towards climate investments, holistic solutions related to urban planning will be presented and smart technologies will be promoted for the best energy management of urban centers.

Mr. Matthew Baldwin presented the latest developments of the Mission on cities and mentioned that through the support of the Ministry of Environment and Energy to the Greek candidacies, 22 Municipalities or Municipal Partnership Associations submitted eligible proposals in respond to the call of expression of interest and have moved to the evaluation phase. The selection process is planned to conclude in April, at which time the successful cities will be invited to join the Cities Mission.