Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001697/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Sakis Arnaoutoglou (S&D)
According to Presidential Decree 194/2025, which entered into force on 15 April 2025, new building rules were established for settlements with a population of fewer than 2,000 inhabitants in Greece. Specifically, the decree establishes minimum building area limits for plots, ranging from 300 to 2,000 square metres, depending on the development zone and the characteristics of the settlement. This regulation has raised concerns, as it may lead to the depreciation of small and medium-sized property in rural and island areas, limiting the possibility of building on smaller plots that were previously considered to be complete and buildable. Furthermore, there is a fear that the new legislation will favour large investors, who will acquire undervalued properties and, through local urban planning processes, convert them into building plots, leading to further land concentration.
Taking into account the European policy of protecting property and promoting sustainable development in rural areas:
- 1.How does the Commission assess the compatibility of Presidential Decree 194/2025 with EU principles on the protection of property and the balanced development of rural areas?
- 2.Does the Commission intend to examine the implications of this regulation and propose measures to protect small property owners and prevent the concentration of land in a few hands?
- 3.Are there European programmes or financial tools that can support small property owners in rural areas to maintain and use their properties in a sustainable way?
Submitted: 28.4.2025