Environmental Groups in Greece Call on Gov’t to Protect Shorelines

Photo source: MEDASSET

Environmental groups in Greece are up in arms over a decision by the Greek Economy & Finance Ministry to do away with a clause that foresees the protection of the country’s shorelines.

Eight environmental groups which include Greenpeace, MEDASSET, WWF Greece and Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature are claiming that the ministry is aiming to abolish the current 30-meter construction limit with a fast-track bill.

The ministry continues through the bill to “treat the country’s coasts, river and lake shores, and beaches as plots of land for ‘commercial exploitation’,” said the organizations referring to the tabled legislation titled “Terms for the Utilization of Public Property in Coastal Areas”.

They go on to add that in view of the imminent climate crisis and while other countries in Europe such as France and Spain are protecting their shorelines setting a 100-250-meter limit for shoreline construction, Greece is instead dropping the 30-meter limit paving the way for construction right on the shore.

The groups go on to add that the current bill also lifts a ban on the concession of smaller beaches under 5 meters in length or width, or less than 150m2, allowing their utilization and placing at risk these valuable ecosystems.

Photo source: Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature

“Even these small, isolated beaches can now be reserved for hotels,” claim the environmentalists.

The eight environmental associations are calling on the government to draw up a national climate resilience policy that will include:

– the immediate compliance and ratification of the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean, which sets a 100-meter shoreline use limit

– prohibiting entities participating in funding options for strategic investments which harm the natural environment and encroach on coastal ecosystems

– granting inspectors the jurisdiction to effectively intervene in cases of violation or abuse of law and to immediately remove illegal constructions

– legally establishing protection and management measures for all Natura 2000 areas in Greece.

In 2020, the EU’s Court of Justice declared that Greece had violated its obligations under EU law in relation to the Natura 2000 network (Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC).

The current shore line use bill up for public deliberation foresees among others a platform where interested parties can apply for beach use auctions. The move followed dozens of complaints for public beach violations, which have resulted in hundreds of public beaches in Greece being covered by umbrellas, sunbeds and bars.