More paliamentary questions

Question by Nasos Iliopoulos – a Greek politician and member of parliament for the New Left – : “Licensing of industrial wind farms in Kythira within protected Natura 2000 areas without completion of the Special Environmental Study”

Recently, a serious issue has emerged with the submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A.) by the consortium TERNA Energy-Vector Wind Parks of Greece, for the construction of three wind farms with a total capacity of 135MW in Kythira. The project is largely located within the Natura GR3000013 area, which has exceptionally high environmental value, particularly for the avifauna of the Eastern Mediterranean.

According to Special Environmental Study 7a (under consultation since 2023), the installation of industrial wind farms in Kythira is explicitly prohibited, as it is incompatible with the protection regime and the natural migratory routes of birds. The area has been recognized by the Hellenic Ornithological Society and international organizations, such as BirdLife International, as a “migration bottleneck” with high concentrations of rare protected species, while a large part of the island is located in Important Bird Areas, where studies discourage the placement of such projects.

At the same time, there has been a negative opinion from O.FY.PE.KA (relevant decision of the Council of State, 556/2025 for Category A1 projects) for a similar project in Cape Maleas, while administrative appeals are pending before RAAEU from the Municipality of Kythira and hundreds of residents.

Furthermore, Greece’s condemnation (ECJ C-849/19) concerns the failure to establish an adequate regulatory framework for the protection of Natura 2000 areas. The delay in approving E.P.M. 7a creates a regulatory gap, which allows environmental licensing of projects in areas that the study itself considers incompatible.

The promotion of such scale investment in a protected area, without institutional safeguards and despite objections from scientific and administrative bodies, raises questions about its compatibility with balanced development and the need to consider nature and ecosystems as valuable natural resources. Clean energy must coexist with biodiversity conservation, integrated into a public energy policy plan that examines all exploitation parameters, applied technology, initial and potential reserves, and social impacts.

In light of the above, the competent Minister is asked:

– Does the Ministry intend to suspend the licensing procedure for this specific project in Kythira until the official approval of Special Environmental Study 7a and the issuance of relevant Presidential Decrees for the Natura GR3000013 area?

– What immediate measures will the political leadership take to ensure that Category A1 projects, such as this one, will not be approved in violation of negative opinions from O.FY.PE.KA. and at the expense of sensitive natural areas and species?