The controversial Kolymbithres tourism project in Naoussa, involving 8,200 m² of construction on a 320,000 m² site, is back on the table, despite having been rejected by the Council of State in 2023 following a citizen appeal.
The developer EKTER has now submitted a new, smaller version of the project (the 2023 version involving 12,000 m²) in the form of a draft presidential decree. Alarmingly, the Ministry of the Environment has decided that this plan does not require public consultation. The draft decree was therefore sent directly to the Council of State without informing the local community or the authorities.
A long-standing conflict
The Kolymbithres project first appeared in 2017 and was rejected by the municipal council. In 2018, a revised version was approved by a majority vote, despite warnings about its impact. This decision sparked widespread opposition:
- Thousands of citizens signed a petition.
- The Friends of Paros wrote to the ministers concerned and MPs questioned the government.
- Citizens took the case to the Council of State, which rejected it.
The rejection by the Council of State confirmed what many had been saying from the outset: such projects, in sensitive natural and archaeological areas, are incompatible with the future and the development framework of Paros.
Growing opposition
Since then, attitudes in Paros have changed significantly. The island is experiencing increasing overcrowding and overconstruction, with increased pressure on water, infrastructure, traffic (already saturated in this area, which already has another very large hotel complex) and the landscape.
The current municipal majority (Paros with Responsibility and Unity) has declared its categorical opposition to this type of tourism investment, and Laïki Syspeirosi (People’s Rally) maintains its constant rejection. What was once a minority position has now become a broad consensus: Paros cannot absorb such projects.
Our position
The Friends of Paros and Antiparos reaffirm their opposition to:
- To special development plans (EΠΣ/EΣΧΑΣΕ), which bypass local planning and favour special interests.
- To the significant overcrowding of the island, the cumulative effect of which is equally destructive.
Both threats endanger the environment, cultural heritage and Cycladic identity of Paros.
A call to action
The return of the Kolymbithres project reminds us of the need to remain vigilant. The future of Paros cannot be decided without its inhabitants.
We support the citizens of Paros in their mobilisation and are prepared, if necessary, to contribute to this fight at the legal level.
We oppose the special plans. We also oppose the ongoing overconstruction.
We are taking action to protect Paros.
Sign the petition of associations and organisations of civil society
“The implementation of the EKTER S.A. project in Kolymbithres, Paros, must be prevented by any means”
I utterly oppose this discredfited EKTER project. Paros does not need this kind of so called development which bypasses local planning and the people of Paros.