Proposal Aims to Protect Greece’s Shorelines
Dodecanese MP and Chairman of the Hellenic Parliament’s Committee on the Regions Manos Konsolas has officially submitted a comprehensive draft bill addressing coastal erosion to the Ministers of National Economy and Finance, Environment and Energy, and Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, fulfilling a commitment he had previously announced.
The draft legislation was prepared in cooperation with the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) and its President, Giorgos Stasinos, following an initiative led by Konsolas, who had already brought the issue before two special sessions of Parliament’s Committee on the Regions. The proposal also incorporates recommendations from political parties, scientific institutions, and representatives of local government.
In his accompanying letter, Konsolas stresses that the bill should be further evaluated and enriched by the competent ministries before being released for public consultation and subsequently introduced to Parliament for approval. He also underlines that coastal erosion has become a critical issue, particularly for Greece’s islands and coastal regions, threatening private property, local economies, social life, and the natural environment.
The proposed legislation consists of 15 articles and introduces a dedicated legal framework for the rapid implementation of coastal protection projects. Its key provisions include:
- A simplified and flexible administrative approval process for emergency coastal protection works.
- A special environmental licensing procedure supported by approved coastal engineering studies to ensure scientifically sound and environmentally sustainable interventions.
- The establishment of a specialized assessment committee through which municipalities will submit requests for coastal protection projects. The committee will conduct on-site inspections within 25 days and submit its findings to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy within five days after the inspection.
The initiative comes at a time when climate change and increasingly severe weather conditions are accelerating coastal erosion across Greece, highlighting the urgent need for a modern legal framework to safeguard the country’s coastlines and island communities.
