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Costas Kadis, Cyprus' nominee for EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, is facing criticism over his handling of a controversial waste management scandal ahead of his November 6 hearing before the European Parliament's Fisheries Committee.
According to a report by Pavlos Neophytou in this Sunday's Kathimerini, the issue centers around the Pentakomou Waste Treatment Plant, which has been illegally dumping waste for years, despite receiving over €46 million in EU funding to process it into fuel. The plant’s failures occurred under Kadis’ tenure as Environment Minister, raising questions about his competence and suitability for the EU role.
A 200-page administrative report criticizes Kadis’ Ministry for continuing to bury waste despite clear evidence that the plant wasn’t functioning properly. The report highlights that the Ministry, under Kadis, made no effort to seek alternatives, even though the dumping violated EU and state regulations. Although Kadis wasn’t involved when the project started, his ministry oversaw the illegal dumping for five years. The report doesn’t directly name Kadis but condemns the "unjustifiable governmental indifference" shown under his leadership.
One of the more striking revelations is the ongoing destruction of the plant's equipment due to unresolved disputes between the contractor and Kadis’ Ministry. The contractor argued that incoming waste didn’t meet the project’s specifications, leading to severe damage to machinery. Yet, Kadis’ ministry did not take legal steps to resolve the conflict, allowing the plant to deteriorate further.
In December 2023, the Water Development Department took over management of the plant, but legal proceedings between the government and the contractor are still ongoing. Environmental groups have also raised alarms about untreated waste being dumped at the site, causing health hazards for nearby communities. Despite these serious accusations, Kadis has remained silent in the lead-up to his hearing, reportedly following advice from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to limit media engagement.
Kadis’ November 6 hearing is critical, as he will need to defend his past record in front of the European Parliament's Fisheries Committee. His appearance will include questions from the Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety Committee, though they won’t have a vote on his nomination. If approved, Kadis will join the new European Commission, which will be subject to a plenary vote later in November.
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