More than 4,500 citizen complaints about beaches and coastlines across Greece have been checked by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance over the past three weeks.
Extensive checks were carried out in cooperation with the Hellenic Police and local municipalities on more than 150 beaches and over 750 businesses. The complaints were mainly received through the MyCoast app and via telephone calls from citizens to local Real Estate Services.
According to the Ministry, the overall situation has clearly improved compared to previous years, as most businesses operating on the beaches have complied with the new rules and legal framework.
However, the checks also revealed several violations, ranging from the lack of proper signage to the excessive use of space with additional umbrellas and seats, unauthorized constructions and instances of arbitrary occupation without a concession contract.
All businesses found in violation faced the prescribed administrative fines. In cases without a contract, approximately 20 beach sections illegally occupied by umbrellas and seats were sealed off in areas such as Rhodes, Mesolongi, Volos, Corfu, Parga, Thessaloniki and Heraklion. These sections have been returned to citizens for free use. The total fines imposed exceed 800,000 euros.
It is noted that the six regions with the most complaints are Chalkidiki, Preveza, East Attica, Cyclades and Dodecanese. Ministry stated that checks will continue even more intensively in the coming period, prioritizing areas with the most citizen complaints and those with a high number of reported violations.
