Greece Suspends Mykonos Building Permits to Tackle Unlawful Construction

Mykonos, Greece.

Environment Minister Kostas Skrekas announced this week that all building permits for properties located outside zoning areas on Mykonos, one of Greece’s most popular tourism hotspots, will be suspended.

The decision comes after the violent assault on an archaeologist overseeing construction activities on Mykonos earlier this month. The Greek Archaeologists Association told local media that their colleague was most likely beaten up by aggressors hired by developers seeking to build illegally.

“Until the special zoning plan is approved which will once and for all address these issues, building permits are suspended and no permits will be issued for areas outside the zoning plan on Mykonos,” said Skrekas. “The perpetrators of the criminal and Mafia-style attacks against the archaeologist will be punished.”

Environment and Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas. Photo source: Ministry of Environment and Energy.

Skrekas went on to add that “the law will be enforced on Mykonos… No illegal plan will be legalized”. The amended regulation however allows exceptions.

“The government will not be subjected to blackmail and no loophole is going to work,” said Skrekas, adding that the ministry’s central service will from now on oversee inspections.

An investigation into the causes of the incident are ongoing. The practice of illegal construction has never been addressed by any government in Greece so far.