More than 1,500 inspections have been carried out to date at more than 300 beaches, involving a total of 450 businesses across the country, as part of intensified inspections to protect the coastline and beaches and ensure citizens’ free access.
The Property Services of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance are continuing their on-site inspections at an increased pace, giving priority to areas where more complaints are recorded. As part of the inspections, drones and modern technological tools are being used, strengthening on-site procedures and enabling the faster detection of violations.
As part of the cooperation between the General Secretariat of Public Property and the University of the Aegean, remote inspections are also being carried out, with the aim of broader supervision of the beaches. According to the Ministry, technology complements field inspections and helps identify cases of unauthorized occupation or exceeding the allocated space.
The MyCoast application remains a key tool for the complaints being examined, while telephone reports from citizens to the local Property Services are also being utilized. This year, the lowest number of complaints compared with previous years is being recorded. At the same time, the picture from field inspections indicates a significantly increased level of compliance by businesses with the framework of Law 5092/2024.
The largest number of complaints nationwide is currently recorded in Halkidiki, Eastern Attica, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese and Kavala, where targeted inspection actions are already underway. When violations are detected, sanctions are imposed immediately.
The most common violations and indicative fines
According to the Ministry, the most common violations concern unauthorized occupation of the coastline or beach without a concession agreement, exceeding the allocated space with additional umbrellas and sun loungers or other installations, obstructing citizens’ free access and failing to display the required sign.
Among others, the following cases are reported:
- In Rhodes, an immediate removal order, a sealing order and fines totaling €73,000 were imposed, along with an administrative eviction protocol.
- In Halkidiki, five businesses were issued immediate removal orders and sealing orders.
- In Ilia, an immediate removal order, a sealing order and a fine of €5,667.66 were imposed for obstructing access to the coastline.
- In Kavala, an immediate removal order and a fine of €15,912 were imposed on a business without a lease agreement.
- In Zakynthos, fines of €2,000 were imposed on four businesses for obstructing access, while in another case involving encroachment on an old coastline, a fine of €72,490.60 and an administrative eviction order were imposed.
Inspections are continuing throughout the summer season, with the aim of immediate intervention wherever a violation of the legislation is identified and of maintaining the public and common-use character of the beaches.
More than 8,000 concession agreements
Alongside the inspections, the Property Services also managed the increased volume of applications for the concession of simple use of the coastline and beach across the country, undertaking the relevant procedure for the first time throughout the country. To date, more than 8,000 concession agreements have been signed for the summer season.
Of these, 4,870 agreements were signed directly with adjacent businesses, while approximately 3,130 resulted from an electronic competitive bidding process. The Ministry attributes the faster completion of the process to the full digitalization of the concession system and the operation of two specialized digital platforms, one for the electronic submission of applications and one for auctions.
The overall framework implemented this year combines digital procedures, enhanced inspections using modern technological tools and sanctions where violations are identified, with the Ministry emphasizing that the aim is the rational use of public property, support for lawful business activity and the protection of the coastline and beaches.
