The Culture Minister Lina Mendoni emphasized the importance of the Ministry of Culture in public works, particularly regarding the preservation and integration of Greece’s cultural heritage in major infrastructure projects. Speaking at the 9th Infrastructure and Transport Conference, she highlighted that Greece is largely an archaeological site, which often leads to discoveries during such projects.
Mendoni noted that early involvement of the Ministry of Culture, with an appropriate legislative framework, can alleviate delays caused by archaeological finds, which are sometimes exploited by parties aiming to halt projects. She cited the Thessaloniki Metro as an example, describing how the archaeological findings at the Venizelos station were politically manipulated.
She also expressed optimism about the collaboration between engineers and archaeologists, asserting that the Ministry resolves issues stemming from inadequate planning. Regarding staffing, Mendoni mentioned that the Archaeological Service recruits personnel for specific projects, and with good coordination, major projects should not cause significant disruptions.
