Greece’s Supreme Court has sent a memo to prosecutors across the country informing them that “the law does not recognize private beaches.”
“The law does not recognize ‘private’ beaches!” the Supreme Court memo stressed, adding that any attempt to block public access – which is protected by the Greek Constitution – is not only illegal but “immoral” and should be dealt with strictly, with demolition orders and arrests where this becomes necessary.
Τhe Supreme court memo comes after recent relevant complaints about violations of the law on Mykonos and Rhodes, as well as on other islands.
The deputy prosecutor in charge of environment protection unequivocally requests unhindered and free access of citizens to the beaches for the public.
The memo pointed in particular to violations by large hotels or beach bars claiming “ownership” of large swaths of the coast.
“With our prosecutorial determination, we must make it clear to everyone, even by resorting to sanctions and applying the full force of the law, that the main purpose of communal property is for the public to have free and unfettered access to it,” the prosecutor reportedly stressed.
It is, however, unclear how authorities will proceed with beaches leased by municipalities to private individuals or companies and where citizens have access only after they pay an entrance fee.
Note that such beaches offer services to bathers that include sunbeds, sanitary facilities, showers etc that are mostly absent in free beaches.
