Greece declares 198 beaches as “fully protected”, no umbrellas, sunbeds

With a joint ministerial decision, Greece has declared 198 beaches across the country as fully protected in terms of utilization of public property in coastal areas and where neither umbrellas nor sunbeds are allowed, among others.

These 198 beaches are within the Natura 2000 network, that is areas of high ecological importance. According to the ministerial decision, prohibited are  concessions and, by extension, the placement of umbrellas, sunbeds, etc. for tourism exploitation.

The decision signed on Friday by the ministers of  Finance, Kostsi Hatzidakis, and Environment & Energy Thodoros SKylakakis,  follows a recommendation from the Natural Environment and Climate Change Organization (O.F.Y.PE.K.A.), with criteria that include: the significant presence of habitats protected by EU or national legislation, rare endemic species of flora and fauna, the performance of important ecological functions for protected species, their designation as Key Biodiversity Areas, the presence of important ecosystems in need of protection and conservation or restoration.

However, the initial plan by the environment ministry foresaw 1,000 beaches throughout the country and thus located inside or outside the Natura 2000 areas, daily ethnos.gr reported.

Granting the right to simple use of the seashore and the beach is prohibited in these beaches, as well as any other action that may endanger their morphology and their integrity in terms of their ecological functions, and in particular:

• presence of motor vehicles
• organization of events with the participation of more than ten people
• music or the production of other sounds using an electrical reproduction or amplification device, for the exercise of activities
• placement of mobile elements, such as table seats, umbrellas, sunbeds, etc.
•  exercise of activities that serve bathers or the recreation of the public, for the rental of marine recreational equipment
• operation of a self-propelled or trailer mobile refreshment station

You can check the beaches here in Greek.

Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, said: “The central goal of the regulations, which we established with the law 5092/2024, is the combination of environmental protection with sustainable development. After all, the environment is a valuable component of the Greek tourist product.”

On his part, Environment minister Thodoros Skylakakis said: “Our Decision on the so-called “Deceitful beaches” foresees that they will not be granted for tourist exploitation, as what is important in these beaches is the environmental protection over the development-investment dimension.”

PS it doesn’t matter if noisy wind farms are installed inside Natura 2000 areas, provided they are not close to the protected 198 beaches lol