Regarding the water sector, he will be judged by his attitude toward those EU members which have not implemented the Water Framework Directive in due time Born on 30 April 1941 in Athens, Dimas studied at the University of Athens (law and economics) and got a master’s degree in law at the New York University. Before moving into Greek home policy, he worked for the International Finance Corporation/IFC of the World Bank. Between 1975 and 1977, he was Deputy Governor of the Hellenic Industrial Development Bank.
As Member of Parliament for his party, the “Nea Dimokratia”, the economic lawyer was involved in the EU accession talks of his country and held several ministerial portfolios. Between March and October 2004, Dimas was already EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs.
At an EU Parliamentary Hearing, the then Commissioner-designate was also confronted with the question on the most important challenges of European environmental policy in the next five years. Stavros C. Dimas: “A particular priority will be to find ways of how to optimally tackle the most important long-term challenges concerning the EU, but also the entire world.
These are primarily the issues of climate change, protection of biodiversity, and the management of harmful environmental factors, especially in urban regions. Topping the agenda, however, is undoubtedly the search for more sustainable production and consumption patterns.” In order to obtain concrete results, the new commissioner will execute the following list:
- Improvement of the implementation of existing legislature by determined enforcement, but also by the development of a new partnership with the member countries.
- Development of an environmental policy to fit the enlarged Union, so that all 25 member countries and their inhabitants will benefit from it.
- Promotion of the reconciliation of environmental protection and competitiveness, which on the one hand shall be achieved by strengthening the economic and scientific basis of politics, and on the other by increasing the use of environmental technologies. A “greener” public procurement is also envisaged.
- Stronger EU commitment in international key issues like climate change, biodiversity, and water.
- Increase of the awareness regarding EU environmental policy by clear and precise information of citizens; integration of all stakeholders in policy-developing processes.
