Questions about its intentions and how it is carried out give rise to a program for creating route networkwhich is funded by 30 million euros from Recovery Fund. Providing up to €800,000 per municipality is considered an outrageously high amount for such infrastructure and raises concerns that “contract type” projects will qualify. In addition, the response time of municipalities – in terms of the number of supporting documents required, including approved studies – is extremely limited. Finally, its inclusion raises questions Agios Oros and even with a specific budget, when, by definition, this is a territory with limited access, which is not a naturalistic, but a religious direction.

Project completed Ministry of the Environment, implemented by OFYPEKA, has been announced for two years now, but the corresponding call for interest was published only recently. Municipalities, regions, as well as the Holy Community of Athos and legal entities of the Church (for example, monasteries) are eligible to apply for funding. The project must concern the creation of new or the allocation of old walking and cycling routes and has a number of conditions, such as:

• The request must be accompanied by mature research.

• Each interested party can claim up to 800,000 euros, and in areas affected by the fire, this amount rises to 1.5 million euros.

• 20% of the budget will be allocated exclusively to mountain or small island municipalities and municipalities in border areas.

Many agencies argue that a significant amount of funding will lead to “contract logic” projects.

• Another 7% will be allocated exclusively to Mount Athos. This particular choice raises many questions, as access to Mount Athos is not free and therefore half of the country’s population will not benefit by definition. In addition, Mount Athos is not a place of nature worship and cannot be freely visited as such. Finally, Holy Mount Athos, due to its special status, is not bound by the obligations established by the Greek environmental legislation, and cannot be controlled by the competent authorities of our country.

“Minimum Margin”

“The two months given to the municipality to submit a request is the minimum,” said Vassilis Karahalios, ELLET partner for cultural routes. “So he sort of “photographs” those who knew and were ready. In addition, there is a condition that OFYPEKA reserves the right to accept applications even without providing all supporting documents, if it deems it so, which is obviously problematic. Finally, 800,000 euros for the municipality is an absurdly large amount if you do not approach the creation of paths with the logic of a contractor.”

“On a positive note, this is one of the largest funds allocated to lanes internationally. Minus – a possible recharge. The average cost of an 80-120 km network is between 100 and 200,000 euros, depending on the complexity,” says Foivos Tsaravopoulos, founder of Paths of Greece. “The amount of 800,000 euros per municipality is huge. Also, they have a requirement that research be mature and licensed, which is not done within a month, unless the field was started much earlier. Another question is that he definitely asks for a place to rest, i.e. alcove. This is no longer considered good practice and why these infrastructures are abandoned and why people prefer to sit under a tree.” As for the Holy Mount Athos, “funding is too large for its area and population.”

“We requested approved studies to move as quickly as possible,” says Deputy Environment Minister Giorgos Amiras. “In addition, the municipalities knew that the invitation would be made, we have informed KEDE since last year, I have informed the networks of small island municipalities and mountain municipalities, I repeat this in every municipality that I visit. I think that the funding for the municipality is not excessive if you think about what we want to do, a large modern network with many circular routes that will pass through the villages to enhance ecotourism.” As for Mount Athos, “we chose it for two reasons. First, the paths will contribute to fire protection, as they will provide access to areas with dense vegetation. Secondly, the Hagioreites themselves asked us about it.”