Sealing ten public catering establishments for a period of 1 to 5 days for infringing on public space by placing table space launched Municipality of Athens pursuant to recently adopted relevant legislation. 8 of the 10 stores under threat of closure and expanding repeatedly without permission are located in Kolonaki, one in Apostolou Pavel and one in Koukaki. The process, according to sources in the municipality of Athens, will continue for several more months. restaurantswhich, despite warnings from the municipal police, are expanding without permission.

Mister. Vassilios Koromantosthe deputy mayor of the municipal police and public places, believes that the sealing will bring results within a few days and lead to compliance by enterprises that do not care about imposing fines and continue to act arbitrarily.

“Closing a restaurant for a few days means the entrepreneur could lose a lot of money. We believe this measure will put more pressure on owners to comply with the law.”

Illegal store owners are still playing hide-and-seek with the municipal police, ignoring the warnings and paperwork they receive to remove the seats from the tables. As a last resort, the municipality could pick up extra seats at the table – if a truck could be found – and deliver them to their warehouses. The next day after paying the fine, the owner could pick up the removed furniture and install it again.

The proposal will be discussed today in the quality of life committee, and then in the City Council.

With the adaptation of article 51 of Law 5027/2023, municipalities are now given the opportunity not only to impose fines, but also to seal for several days catering establishments that arbitrarily occupy public space “repeatedly”.

The enterprise subject to sealing is given five days to withdraw perishable products. During this period, he may also apply to the administrative court for annulment of the decision of the municipality. However, the relevant decisions, according to Mr. Koromantzos, are made very quickly, and this is how the process is going.

up to three days

The proposal to seal ten stores is expected to be discussed in the quality of life committee today, and on the same day the issue will also be referred to the municipal council. The vice mayor emphasizes that for the first time he will ask that the period of store closures not exceed three days, so that businessmen receive the first message. “We want to get the attention of those who break the rules, as well as protect those who act legally from unfair competition,” he notes. However, he adds that the application of the measure can be repeated.

However, based on the procedures in place, even if a decision is made to close shops today, they will remain closed for several days after Easter.

The planters leave

This year, Athens will celebrate Easter without palms and planters on Panepistimi Street. By tomorrow, all equipment installed as part of the Big Walk pilot project must be dismantled so that the contractor can immediately begin work. Sources in the municipality of Athens say the project will be completed in August. The planters and palm trees were installed in June 2020 and, despite assurances that the equipment would be on the sidewalk for a short time, they stood for three years. According to the Municipality of Athens, the planters cost more than 500,000 euros because they are a special design that is resistant to wear. The territory on which they were placed will be pedestrian, and on both sides of the two sidewalks that will be created at the university, it is planned to place about 90 plane trees. Palm trees will be temporarily brought to a nursery for conservation and then planted in some parts of the city. As for the planters, according to the statement of the mayor Kostas Bakoyannis, they will be moved to the districts of Athens.