The Attica Regional Council approved the environmental impact report on the privatization of the Asteria Glyfada five-star hotel south of Athens on Tuesday. The report however, according to Deputy Regional Finance Director Christos Karamanos, is different to the one of 2003. The new report has strict terms for environmental protection pertaining to forestland and the archeological site in the area.

Residents and other groups voiced their objections. One of the controversial parts of the report includes the fact that illegally built structures of recent decades are not going to be torn down. They are worried that destructive interventions will take place in the area’s natural forest. Another area of concern is the fear that the investor would close off the beach for his hotel use.