Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001876/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Elena Kountoura (The Left)
A recent law in Greece[1] has extended the existing ban on parking for camper vans and caravans to areas including archaeological sites, coastlines, beaches, forest edges and public spaces[2]. Despite referring to Article 34 of the Greek Highway Code[3], this extension of scope has not been accompanied by the corresponding development of necessary infrastructure set out for municipal, fenced and equipped parking areas.
However, despite the existence of the legal framework, the lack of infrastructure such as camper stops and organised municipal sites makes it practically impossible for camper vans and caravans to park or stay anywhere legally. This has left European citizens with camper vans or caravans facing confusion and uncertainty and unable to comply with requirements, especially in areas lacking signs, information or infrastructure provision[4].
Given that Greece is still struggling to attract caravanners, owing to its lack of adequate infrastructure and policies, and given that in the EU the sector generates EUR 120 billion a year, will the Commission say:
- 1.Does it intend to include objectives for developing parking and service infrastructure for camper vans and caravans in the Member States in the upcoming European sustainable tourism strategy, with a view to strengthening the EU’s road tourism policy?
- 2.Will it consider establishing a European framework of guidelines or common minimum standards for such infrastructure in the context of free movement and European tourism policy?
- 3.Does it intend to finance, through the European structural funds or other instruments, the development of appropriate infrastructure in Greek tourist destinations?
Submitted: 12.5.2025
- [1] Law 5170/2025 (Government Gazette A 6/20-01-2025), https://www.taxheaven.gr/law/5170/2025.
- [2] This amendment also includes a ban on private landowners hosting more than one camping vehicle for free.
- [3] Specifically, Article 34 of the Greek Highway Code establishes the possibility of parking camping vehicles in appropriate fenced areas designated by the relevant municipalities or communities, which also ensure their security, while a joint decision of the ministers for the interior, public administration and decentralisation, transport and communications, public order and the environment, spatial planning and public works lays down detailed rules for implementation and makes provision for costs relating to security, maintenance, etc.
- [4] The absence of an organised strategy to promote road tourism compromises this alternative form of tourism, which is systematically supported in other EU countries, where there are more than 30 000 camper stops.