Filenews 14 January 2026 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The Republic of Cyprus is walking a tightrope regarding the management of the Natura 2000 protected area Agia Thekla – Liopetri, with the spectre of referral to the European Court of Justice hovering over the province of Famagusta. Yesterday's debate in the Parliamentary Committee on Trade highlighted the deep gap between the development pressures of local authorities and the strict environmental commitments that the Republic itself has undertaken towards the EU.
At the center of the controversy are the pressures to legalize overruns in hotel units, the conversion of unfinished projects into... dovecotes and a series of controversial environmental permits that the Audit Office characterizes as environmental crimes.
The Department of Environment is currently in a critical evaluation phase. It has before it the Supplementary Study of Special Ecological Assessment (MEOA), which was prepared by the National Technical University of Athens at the behest of the local authorities, in order to support their objections to the Local Plan.
The aim of the municipalities is to modify the urban planning regime to allow taller buildings and higher rates. However, the Environmental Authority, following a strictly technocratic procedure, requested the assistance of a specialized expert to assess whether these proposals are in line with the protection of the species of characterization, the rock plum.
According to data, while the Local Plan provides for three floors, derogatory permits were granted for six, and in some cases eight floors have been illegally erected.
Cases of hotels that remain unfinished, reminiscent of dovecotes, aesthetically and environmentally degrading the area, were reported, without, however, mentioning that they were erected in violation of environmental approvals and planning permits.
It is noted that the construction of the Ayia Napa Marina and the interventions of the Municipality of Sotiras for the formation of beaches have already caused "serious and irreversible effects" on the ecosystem.
The Audit Office is sounding the alarm, talking about an orchestrated effort to serve interests. A point of reference is the area of Cape Greco (Ammos tou Kampouris), where the Environmental Authority amended previous terms to allow additional floors, without new scientific data, but on the basis of economic pressures and urban planning incentives.
''You understand the seriousness when unsubstantiated changes are observed in legally binding terms of a Special Ecological Assessment Report", emphasizes the Audit Office, warning that this tactic irreparably exposes Cyprus to Brussels.
The attitude of the Department of Environment is of great concern. The revision of reports under pressure from local authorities and investors, despite the contrary opinion of the members of the Ad-hoc Committee and independent experts, sets a dangerous precedent. When technocratic decisions seem to be subordinated to political and economic expediencies, the protection of the Natura 2000 network becomes a dead letter.
The European Commission is already at the reasoned opinion stage, one step away from being referred to court. If Cyprus does not prove that it can protect its natural wealth from unregulated construction, the price (economic and moral) will be heavy.
The parliamentary committee on Trade has called on the Department of Environment by next Tuesday to submit a roadmap, which includes the steps until licensing.
