Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou has signed a framework agreement in the field of forestry with the French Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention, Agnès Pannier-Runacher. The agreement was signed on Monday, on the sidelines of Papastavrou's participation in the Council of EU Energy Ministers in Luxembourg.

According to an announcement on Tuesday, a central commitment of the two sides is the introduction of know-how and innovation in forest management. Their cooperation will also include good practices regarding the use of satellite data for the protection of forests, as well as the methods used for the harvesting and utilisation of biomass from agricultural crops in fields near forest areas. The framework agreement with France focuses on the regions of Epirus, Western Macedonia and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

As underlined in the same announcement, this cooperation takes into account the specialisation of each side and the similarities or correspondences of the forest ecosystems. More specifically, the entities of the two countries will cooperate with the aim of transferring know-how and innovation regarding forest management and the exploitation of wood products.

The Ministers of Greece and France issued a joint statement: "The protection of the environment, and in particular our forests, is a collective issue that requires international cooperation, exchanges of know-how and best practices. Greece and France, as friendly countries, will work together to ensure that the signing of this agreement will be the start for closer cooperation, with the aim of better protecting our natural resources, our forests and our biodiversity, especially in areas that share common characteristics and where we can better leverage the experience of our countries."