The Ministry of Environment and Energy is moving forward with a protection regime through Presidential Decrees to shield areas and more effectively protect biodiversity and other ecological features, following the surge of controversy that broke out over the attempted construction at Sarakiniko in Milos.

In other words, there is a concerted government effort to fill the gaps that exist across the country and in areas such as Sarakiniko and Kleftiko in Milos, Gyaros, Mani, Messinia, Axios, the Ionian Park, the Aegean Park, Thessaly, which they may be exploited to the maximum by investors, with the risk of destruction of the precious ecosystems and areas of particular natural beauty.

The failure of the Building Service of Milos that issued a building permit in an area for which the municipality of the island had issued a building ban, paves the way for significant changes in the way the Building Services operate, which are characterized by opaque procedures, complications and local corruption.

The government intends to put these issues on the table at a wide-ranging meeting at the Maximos building next week, in order to submit proposals that can be realistic and provide a way forward on an issue that concerns the whole country and extends from Mykonos and Santorini to Halkidiki.

No final decisions have been made, but it seems to be a foregone conclusion that the government’s decision to return the building permit authority to the central state has been made. According to reports, there are thoughts that the administration of the building services will be transferred from the planning policy-making side to the Ministry of Environment and Energy.

The Interior Ministry, which currently oversees the Planning Departments through the Decentralized Administrations, will retain their administrative function with the aim that the municipalities will have a controlling role and can intervene in the administration if they deem it necessary.

The revelation that the Building Service of Milos and the competent Environmental Committee of the Region that approved the environmental study of the company Unique Development allowed without any asterisk the construction of a five-star hotel in Sarakiniko of Milos with a building area of about 3,000 sq.m (plus three luxury residences on an adjacent plot of land issued with a separate building permit) brings to the fore the changes in the way the Planning Departments operate, which since 2010 with the provisions of “Kallikrates” passed to the municipalities dissolving the old Prefectural Planning Departments.