The Ministry of Environment and Energy, in a decision delayed by decades, announced that the land and water areas of the 31km long Neda river gorge will be finally classified as a Protected Landscape and a Protected Natural Formation, following a study conducted by Greece's Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency. The river, famously the only Greek river with a female name, is named after the mythological nymph Neda which took care of infant Zeus.
The ministerial decision published on April 4, 2023 triples the number of permits issued in 2022 but is a tenth of the number requested by employers. The total number of permits for all sectors is 167,925, of which 20,000 are covered by bilateral agreements with Egypt and Bangladesh. It is positive to finally see legal routes to migration and work, as long as worker's rights including decent work conditions and fair remuneration are respected. Youth Unemployment in Greece is still hovering around 30% thus the accute labour shortage in Greece's tourism sector is linked both to low wages and bad working conditions and an abrupt expansion of the sector after the pandemic.
Thanks to the EU-cofunded project "Creation of Integrated Accessible Tourist Marine Destinations" there will be 250 accessible beaches for the 2023 Summer season. The EUR 15m project involved the supply and installation of non-permanent infrastructure to enable autonomous access to the sea for persons with disabilities and limited mobility as well as the installation of auxiliary facilities such as removable changing rooms, portable sanitary facilities, corridors, shading and protection areas for bathers, parking areas for disabled persons. We cannot find any official global data on accessible beaches, probably because there is no global standard, but according to Accessibletravel.online there were just 800 accessible beaches worldwide in 2022, so these 250 beaches would be a significant addition. That said, the world has to do a lot better given the estimated tens of thousands of organised beaches (again no data on total number).
An important event was held in Lamia on 13 March 2023 on the topic of "Wind farms in Oiti - threats to the ecosystem and the soft development of the region". The event was organized by the Movement of Citizens for the Protection of Oiti in collaboration with the Greek Mountaineering Association of Lamia, the Friends of the Forest Association and the "TRAHINA" Runners' Association. The purpose of the event was to inform the local community and to cancel the plans for the installation of wind turbines on the mountain of Oiti. The event was shown live on STAR Central Greece TV and all presentations can be watched online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVg3IqCp6Ec
According to the European Wilderness Society, Pelophylax cerigensis, the critically endangered Karpathos frog, is endemic to the southern Agean Greek island of Karpathos. Its range is now restricted to just two small rivers in the north of the island and mainly feeds on insects and spiders. As part of the LIFE-IP 4 NATURA project, WWF and the University of Athens have drawn up an action plan on its protection.
Green Councilor and former Member of the European Parliament Michalis Tremopoulos was arrested along with other 13 activists of the Save The Trees initiative during a peaceful sit-in protest in Romaikis Agoras Square, an urban park near the Roman Forum of Thessaloniki. They were trying to block contractors hired by the Municipality of Thessaloniki from cutting down 41 tall trees, as part of a city-wide EUR6m programme to cut down and subsequently replace 4,000 supposedly ailing and dangerous, tall trees in the city. The arrested were set free, apart from 5 who were held for refusing to give fingerprints. All have to appear in court with hyped up charges of violent resistance and threats against police, none of which are seen in the many videos of the incident available. Tremopoulos alleges there are economic interests behind the decision and that most of the trees can be saved.
The union demands the payment of seniority benefits, the mandatory implementation of collective bargaining agreements and the extension of unemployment benefits without conditions and terms. - Read more
Το σωματείο απαιτεί την πληρωμή των επιδομάτων προϋπηρεσίας, την υποχρεωτική εφαρμογή των Συλλογικών Συμβάσεων Εργασίας και την επέκταση του επιδόματος ανεργίας χωρίς όρους και προϋποθέσεις - Περισσότερα
The Ministry has published a EUR 30m call for funding to upgrade the existing trails and cycling routes network, to create new ones along with recreational areas at selected points. The project will be coordinated by the Natural Environment & Climate Change Organization (OFYPEKA) and EUR 800k will be available per municipal unit.
In December 2022, WWF Greece sent a report to the European Commission to protest about Greece's systematic failure "to protect significant and vulnerable ecosystems" including Natura 2000 network sites and to implement a relevant 2020 ruling of the EU Court of Justice. The NGO points out that recently-enacted national legislation on protected areas is inconsistent with European Directives. The Commission replied that it agrees with WWF and that it reserves the right to "pursue the infringement case" and send a Letter of formal notice to the Greek government.
Greece's highest administrative court has ordered the Municipality of Athens to proceed with the demolition of the two top floors of Coco-Mat Athens BC Hotel for exceeding maximum height regulations in the increasingly gentrified area of Koukaki, bordering the old city and the Acropolis.
Kathimerini reports that a new 192-bed five star hotel project in Mykonos will receive a EUR 6.6m state subsidy. The mayor of Mykonos is against the project and appealed in early 2022 to the Council of State to annul it on environmental grounds.
Following public protests, a majority of councillors, including the Mayor's faction, voted to freeze long-going attempts to lease or sell coastal areas adjacent to the famous 15th c. Santa Maura castle and a popular public beech in the north eastern tip of the island. The developers have brought intimidation lawsuits against a number of citizens opposing the plans.
Falasarna Beach, CreteDespite objections by Greece's Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (ΟΦΥΠΕΚΑ) and the Municipality of Kissamos, the Environment Committee of the Region of Crete approved by a 13-2 majority a plan by the Tsatsaronaki group to build a 850-bed hotel inside a protected coastal area in Falasarna, Crete. The project still needs approval by the Ministry and the Council of State.
World Trails Conference, SkiathosThe 8th World Trails Conference took place in late September 2022 on the Greek island of Skiathos. The 5-day conference gathered 228 participants from 5 Continents and 32 countries and discussed issues such as sustainability of paths over time, technology, health, construction, promotion and certification, in particular the Green Flag Trails ecolabel. In parallel, an International Film Festival for Trails took place, while the new Skiathos Trails, a project implemented by Paths of Greece in collaboration with the Municipality of Skiathos, were also inaugurated
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New 'Municipal Theatre' Station, Piraeus150 structures related to the City's ancient water supply system were uncovered during construction work and some of these are now part of a permanent exhibition at the new 'Municipal Theatre" underground railway station, one of three inaugurated on 10 October 2022. Piraeus has been the commercial port of Athens since ancient times and hosts important monuments that relatively few tourists visit. The new extension allows passengers to get from Athens Airport to the Port of Piraeus in approximately an hour.
In a new installment of its long-running antagonism with Greek airports operator Fraport, and its supposed high passenger fees (12 Euros per passenger), Ryanair announced its decision to in effect reduce winter flights to and from Athens as it failed to receive 'incentives' from the Greek government, who has yet to reply. In a press release the airline specifically called on Tourism Minister Kikilias to "finally reply in writing to Ryanair’s growth proposals that would transform Greek Tourism creating thousands of jobs in Greece during the winter period". Σε άλλο ένα επεισόδιο της διένεξης της με την Fraport, η Ryanair ανακοίνωσε ότι θα μειώσει το πτητικό της έργο από 29 Οκτωβρίου 2022 με βάση την Αθήνα επειδή δεν έλαβε κίνητρα από την Ελληνική Κυβέρνηση, η αντίδραση της οποίας αναμένεται. Στο δελτίο τύπου της η αεροπορική εταιρεία απευθύνεται συγκεκριμένα στον Υπουργό Τουρισμού τον οποίο καλεί "επιτέλους να απαντήσει γραπτώς στις αναπτυξιακές προτάσεις της Ryanair οι οποίες θα μεταμορφώσουν τον Ελληνικό Τουρισμό δημιουργώντας χιλιάδες θέσεις εργασίας κατά την χειμερινή περίοδο".
Ο εφοπλιστής Φίλιππος Λαιμός παραιτήθηκε από μέλος του ΔΣ του WWF στις 29 Ιουλίου 2022, εξαιτίας της δικαστικής διαμάχης μεταξύ περιβαλλοντικών οργανώσεων και του αδελφού του και του ιδίου, σχετικά με την κατασκευή δύο βιλλών στο Πάπιγκο, εντός-σύμφωνα με τις οργανώσεις-του Εθνικού Πάρκου Βόρειας Πίνδου. Filippos Laimos, a shipowner, resigned from the board of directors of WWF Greece on 29 July 2022 citing conflict of interest resulting from the court case brought by leading environmental organizations against him and his brother, over the construction of two villas in Papigo, in land which - conservationists allege - is within the boundaries of the North Pindus National Park.
Τα Υπουργεία Τουρισμού και Αγροτικής Ανάπτυξης και Τροφίμων ανήρτησαν σε δημόσια διαβούλευση μέχρι 2 Σεπτεμβρίου 2022, σχέδιο Κοινής Υπουργικής Απόφασης για τη θεσμοθέτηση και τις τεχνικές-λειτουργικές προδιαγραφές των επισκέψιμων ελαιοτριβείων. The Ministries of Tourism and Agricultural Development and Food are calling for comments on a new ministerial bill that sets the technical and operational requirements of visitable olive presses, until 2 September 2022.
Μετά από πολύωρη συνάντηση της Γ.Γ. Εργασίας και του Προεδρείου της ΠΟΕΕΤ συμφωνήθηκε η αναστολή εφαρμογής της εγκυκλίου του Υπουργείου Εργασίας που προέβλεπε τη δυνατότητα εξαήμερης εργασίας 40 ωρών ανά εβδομάδα και την έναρξη γύρου διαπραγματεύσεων με την εργοδοσία σχετικά με το καθεστώς των ημερών εργασίας. Η ισχύουσα συλλογική σύμβαση εργασίας υπεγράφη τον Ιούνιο του 2021.
After a long meeting, the general secretary of Labour and the Board of the POEET Tourism & Food Worker Union, agreed to suspend the implementation of a circular of the Ministry of Labour that provided for the possibility of six-day work of 40 hours per week. A new round of negotiations with employers will take place regarding the status of working days. The current collective labour agreement in the Tourism and Restaurant sectors was signed in June 2021.
Lampsa SA, owners of the historic Athenian hotels Grande Bretagne and King George among others, are offering a Euros 1,000 bonus to all their employees in Athens, in recognition of their hard work during a season "of 100% occupancy". Hopefully other hotel companies will follow suit.
A 16 km hiking route inside the "University Forest" of Pertouli, in northwestern Thessaly, was inaugurated today by government officials. The route consists of three main tour paths crossing the forest as well as old churches, fountains, gorges, WW2 monuments. A mobile app and website will also be created. The 3300 ha forest is managed by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The Interministerial Strategic Investments Commission approved the EUR 840m "Saronida Olympos Golf Project", as a 'strategic project' to be developed in a natural unbuilt coastal, hilly area of 650 hectares, one of few remaining in Attica, between Saronida and Lagonissi. It involves the construction of a hotel complex, an 18-hole golf course, a heliport, a tourist village, shopping mall and marina in two stages within the next 8 years. The developers, Beta Real Estate Development SA promise to achieve a near zero carbon footprint by reforesting 300 hectares and by installing renewable energy infrastructure. Before the final go ahead an environmental impact assessment must be approved, and a presidential decree and a special spatial development plan must be issued. The land belonged to a building cooperative of health professionals, that apparently had been unable to gain the necessary permissions from consecutive governments. Premium public land in many coastal regions in Attica and the rest of Greece was acquired using dubious methods to be developed by building cooperatives ("oikodomikoi synetairismoi") formed by judges, policemen, doctors, lawyers, public servants and other professionals, in the era following the end of the civil war and until the end of the military dictatorship (1950-1974).
Hotel employees demand the signing of a collective agreement, wage increases and improvements in working conditions. The Restaurant, Tourism and Hotel Worker & Employees Syndicate argues that wage levels are at 2007 levels, staff has been halved since 2012 and visitation has quadrupled. A gathering will be held at Titania Hotel in central Athens at 9:30 am, on Friday 24 June.
The Evros Delta and Dadia National Park Management Unit announced the death of a Eurasian black vulture (Aegypius monachus), a near-threatened species, after a collision with a wind turbine within a Natura 2000 protected area in the Filiouri Valley. The dead vulture, had been marked in 2018 as a chick and also carried a transmitter. According to Sylvia Zakkak, a biologist working at the Unit, the incident proves the inadequacy of automated collision prevention systems of wind farms. In addition, such systems may displace bird populations. What is certain is that the installation of wind turbines close to important bird areas is a bad idea.
Federation of Lefkadian Associations Press ConferenceThe Federation held a press conference in Athens to express its opposition to, and coordinate action against, Lefkada Municipality plans to privatize areas adjacent to the Santa Maura Castle and the old cooperative TAOL winery. The Municipality's ultimate goal is to facilitate the construction of a five-star hotel. The Federation points out that the plans are incompatible with the character and the existing archaeological, environmental and spatial planning designations of the area.
Photo by Pandemia on FlickrEnvironment Minister Hatzidakis had visited Chrysi Island in June 2020 and talked of a "shameful sight" promising action. This summer limits have been set on the number of tourists taking day trips to the uninhabited 5 sq. km sandy Chrysi (Golden) island 15km south of Ierapetra, Crete. In addition daily visitors are not allowed to venture in the interior of the island so as to allow the Cretan juniper (Juniperus macrocarpa) forest, protected under the EU Natura 2000 scheme, to recover. The island is a declared archeological site and also has shell fossils. Twenty arbitrary constructions were demolished in mid-May 2022, however, according to the Chrysi Action Plan & Monitoring Committee, illegal wells, dirt roads, use of 4WD vehicles, water pipelines, trading (beach bars) and camping activities are still "raging" on the island. The municipality of Ierapetra has protested that the protection measures are "out of reality".
- Mykonos Swimming Pool Summer Refill Ban in place
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- Striking Zakynthos hotel employees win early rehiring
- First underwater paths marked in sunken prehistoric Pavlopetri settlement
- Ministry of Environment will not allow deer hunting in Rhodes