Over 3,000 complaints regarding illegal activities and violations along Greece’s coastline have already been reported to the Ministry of Finance before July even began. Although the situation has improved slightly compared to last year, a total of 2,667 anonymous and named complaints were submitted in June alone, adding to approximately 300 reports received in May. More than half of these complaints have already been investigated, with penalties imposed that, in some cases, exceed €60,000.
Obstruction of public access to the sea, shoreline, or beach can result in fines ranging from €2,000 to €60,000, while hindering inspection efforts by any authority can lead to a €10,000 penalty. A fine of €1,000 is issued for failing to display concession information.
Currently, inspections are being conducted using traditional methods — measuring tapes and concession documents in hand — to verify compliance. However, as August approaches, drones will be deployed for surveillance and aerial photography of beaches either preventively or following complaints.
Officials note that the MyCoast application, developed by the Ministry of Digital Governance, has become a valuable tool for both inspectors and citizens. Overall, high levels of violations seen last summer and extreme cases of illegal activity have not yet reoccurred this year. Stricter fines, faster inspections, and more transparent concession procedures have contributed to an improvement in the situation.
According to data from the Ministry of Environment and Energy, there have been 10,565 concessions granted, including 982 so far this year. Of all complaints, the majority (1,568) relate to unauthorized beach enclosures, followed by 441 reports concerning restricted public access.
The geographical distribution of June complaints reveals hotspots in Eastern Attica and Chalkidiki. Other notable regions include Magnesia (189), Thassos (84), Corfu (79), Rhodes (164), and Preveza (132).
In terms of enforcement, if someone occupies coastal land without a valid concession agreement, the Real Estate Service issues an immediate removal order. Any structures or objects must be removed within 48 hours, regardless of when the violation occurred. Unauthorized constructions are demolished, and businesses operating illegally may face closure and sealing orders within 24 hours.
Fines for violations include:
– Unauthorized construction or modification: quadruple the concession fee multiplied by the number of years since the violation, up to five years, plus a ten-year ban from future concessions.
– Unauthorized occupation: quadruple the estimated concession cost and a five-year exclusion from concession processes.
– Exceeding concession boundaries: quadruple the calculated fee for the unauthorized area. If over 30% of the concession is exceeded repeatedly, longer bans and business suspensions apply.
Greece continues its crackdown on beachfront violations, ensuring fair access and environmental protection, backed by technology, stricter enforcement, and transparency.