Questions to the Regional Authority for the 4th Special Accountability Session 2025
Rhodes, 26.08.2025
As part of the 4th Special Accountability Session 2025 of the Regional Council, scheduled for September 2, 2025, the political group “New Era in the South Aegean” has submitted the following questions to the Regional Authority:
Nikiforos Papanikolas (Leader)
Topic: Carrying Capacity and Climate Neutrality Indicators
In light of recent legislative developments, relevant case law from the Council of State, and the need to enhance legal certainty for both new and ongoing investments in the islands of the South Aegean Region, the following data are presented:
(a) Mandatory Carrying Capacity Assessment Reports (CCARs): According to current Urban Planning Standards (Gov. Gazette D’ 200/2024), CCARs are mandatory deliverables in Local/Special Urban Plans (LUPs/SUPs), especially crucial for small-scale island settlements and sensitive ecosystems.
(b) Prerequisite for New Investments: Documented carrying capacity is vital for licensing, particularly in tourism projects and environmentally or culturally sensitive areas.
(c) Case Law of the Council of State: The CoS has repeatedly annulled approvals on islands when sufficient carrying capacity and spatial planning documentation were lacking.
(d) New Structure of the South Aegean Region (SAR): The new Organizational Chart includes a Directorate for Monitoring Carrying Capacity, tasked with collecting and processing relevant data and developing tools and policies to support the region’s departments.
(e) Governor’s Statement: During the regular Regional Council session on February 24, 2025, the Regional Governor mentioned ongoing work by the SAR on carrying capacity and climate neutrality indicators, expected to be presented soon.
Based on the above, the Regional Authority is asked:
- What is the current status of this project?
- When is it expected to be ready for presentation?
- How will it be utilized to better support regional services and investment projects on the islands?
Mikes Zirounis (Regional Unit of Kalymnos)
Topic: Kalymnos Prefecture Building Facilities
- What is the current condition of the Kalymnos prefecture building facilities in terms of safety, suitability, and maintenance?
- Is there a recorded technical report or study outlining the repair needs?
- What is the region’s planning for interventions, and are there secured funds for this purpose?
Antonis Chalaris (Regional Unit of Thira)
Topic: Absorption of funds for the South Aegean ROP 2021–2027 and Support for Small Islands
On June 13, 2025, the Monitoring Committee of the South Aegean ROP 2021–2027 met in Mykonos. Based on the data presented, while the program is approaching completion (in 1.5 years), only 131 projects have been integrated, representing 62% of the program. This indicates that almost 40% of the program risks not being implemented. Legal commitments account for only 30%, suggesting that many approved projects have either been significantly delayed or are at risk of cancellation. Expenditures stand at 14.5%.
The Regional Authority recently announced plans to support small islands, mentioning specific examples but excluding Thirasia—despite being likely the last island in project integration, partly due to the understaffed technical services of the Municipality of Thira. As smaller island municipalities often lack technical departments, the Region is already responsible for providing support.
Therefore, the following questions are raised:
- What initiatives does the Regional Authority intend to undertake, and what resources/support will be used to ensure that all available funds are utilized in the remaining time, especially for the benefit of small islands and the local economy?
- Why has this not been done since the beginning of the programming period, given that understaffing has always been a known issue?
- Does the Region intend to consider outsourcing to private companies/technical offices the preparation of project files to ensure absorption of available funds in the limited remaining timeframe?
- How many of the integrated projects concern the Cyclades islands?
- For how many of them have legal commitments been made and/or funds disbursed?
- How many projects, and which ones, are at risk of being cancelled?
- For how many of them have legal commitments been made and/or funds disbursed?
