A working visit to monitor illegal cross-border hazardous waste shipments took place from 27-29 March 2023, at the New Port of Limassol, in the framework of the MoniCoT - Monitoring Coalition against Trafficking of Hazardous Waste project (funded by the Internal Security Fund - Police Cooperation Sector of the European Union). The purpose of the visit, organized by the Cyprus Port Authority, was to exchange experiences in monitoring hazardous waste between representatives from ports, judicial and customs authorities, in order to enhance cross-border and regional cooperation in the fight against illegal transport of waste.
The working visit was attended by officials from the Environment Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus, the Ministry of Environment of Greece, the Cyprus Port Authority, the Centre for European Co-operation in the fight against the illegal transport of waste, the Ministry of Environment of Greece, the Cyprus Port Authority, the European Commission and the European Commission. Afterwards, the results of the project so far, the educational material for the monitoring of hazardous waste designed in the framework of MoniCoT, as well as the asynchronous training platform were presented. Subsequently, representatives from Cyprus and Greece had the opportunity to present the national action plans and good practices that have been developed so far at national and European level.
Through the working visit, customs officials, port officials, judges, experts and private sector executives had the opportunity to work together and discuss the mechanisms for the management and monitoring of hazardous waste, the challenges, the common problems and the opportunities for cooperation to better address the issue. In addition, the participants had the opportunity to visit IESC, one of the largest waste management companies in Cyprus, and tour its facilities.
AK/SX
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