The Ministry of National Economy and Finance announced that the recently passed law on the concession of the simple use of the beach and seashore is now fully operational.

By May 31st, over 1,200 section concessions will be offered for electronic auction on the dedicated digital platform (https://eauctions.gsis.gr). It is noted that, in parallel, there are an additional 6,500 concessions from previous years that have an active contract and which have already been registered in the digital register of concession contracts for the simple use of the seashore and beach.

In any case, all concessions, whether new or existing, will be governed by the same framework of controls and fines for illegal occupation of public space and exceeding the areas under concession. The land authorities and all relevant bodies are required to implement the relevant legal and regulatory framework immediately. However, the new picture will be fully in place by the end of June, when the relevant procedures for the new concessionaires to establish themselves on the seashore and beaches will have been completed.

It is recalled that under the new law, the auctions for the concession of parts of the seashore and beaches are now conducted exclusively digitally through the special platform mentioned above.

The notice is posted on the platform and on the website of the municipality concerned at least 20 days before the date of the auction. The details (coordinates, polygon, and aerial photographs) of each concession, the duration, the terms of the concession, and the time for placing and removing the movable elements are posted on the platform.

Concessionaires shall pay a minimum price derived from a mathematical formula based on the objective values of the area, a weighting factor for the activity, and a weighting factor for the seashore according to the specific characteristics of the beach.

In addition, it should be recalled that the new law also defines high-protection beaches and beaches of high protection ("remote beaches") located in Natura areas, for which the concession and consequently the placement of umbrellas, sunbeds, etc. are prohibited.