Today, the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs will discuss regulations concerning the framework for Strategic Developments. This follows the Cabinet's decision to approve the establishment of the Strategic Developments Sector, aiming to license such projects within 12 months.

Specifically, the committee will discuss the criteria that determine which developments can be classified as strategic projects, the criteria for appointing project managers for these developments, and the determination of the amount for the second installment of the management fee imposed for licensing strategic projects.

According to Brief's information, the Ministry of Interior wants projects classified as Strategic Developments to provide multiple and long-term benefits to the economy.

For instance, these projects should fall into sectors such as Health, Education, Culture, Sports, Agricultural Development, and Shipping, while simultaneously creating and offering long-term employment opportunities. Brief's information indicates that the project's cost should exceed 20 to 25 million euros.

Regarding fees, the amount proposed appears to reach up to €35,000. These fees will offset the administrative costs for such developments.

The Strategic Developments Sector will be headed by the Director of the Department of Town Planning and Housing. Specifically, the sector will comprise two branches: the Project Management Branch and the Licensing Branch. Project Managers will fall under the Project Management Branch.

The Licensing Branch will be responsible for the town planning and building permits for strategic development projects.

At this stage, the sector will be staffed by permanent personnel from other sectors of the department, who will perform the required tasks in addition to their primary duties, mainly through overtime work.

At a later stage, depending on the level of interest shown, there may be a need to hire personnel or permanently staff the sector partially with personnel returning from temporary secondment to the District Organizations of Local Government.

Based on the Cabinet's decision, the Strategic Developments Sector will enter into Memorandums of Cooperation with the administrative authorities involved in the licensing process. These will be approved by the Minister of Interior and then submitted for approval to the Cabinet.

The Memorandums of Cooperation will describe the procedures for consultation, application submission, and licensing. They will include a list of officers deemed suitable by the head of each administrative authority to be involved in the licensing process. These memorandums enable the adherence to the strict licensing timelines for strategic development projects and the optimal implementation of the law.