In a joint statement, nine environmental organizations expressed their dissatisfaction with the successive postponement by the Council of Europe of the hearings on the appeal against the construction of houses outside the community in Papigo. As they say, successive delays have led to the fact that the residential complex is already being built, which has become a fait accompli.

The appeal is against permission to build houses in a location that the organizations claim is outside the traditional settlement of Papigo and within the North Pindos National Park. The appeal was filed by the Kallisto environmental organizations, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature and the King on March 9, 2022, and was originally scheduled to take place in November 2022. However, she received three deferrals, now until June 7, 2023.

Environmental groups stress that after so many delays, the residential complex, which they complain is located on the territory of the national park, has already been erected.

“Meanwhile, construction work continues unhindered, despite complaints from environmental organizations, to which the competent authorities have remained deaf, with the exception of the North Pindos National Park Management Department of the Environmental Protection Organization (OFYPEKA). During this time, various issues have arisen: the use of “corrected” boundaries of the settlement without coordination and urban planning justification, illegal expansion and use of roads, as well as the opening of new roads within a specially protected area, non-compliance with the institutional framework for the landscape – Places of special natural beauty, refusal to issue documents -, the practice of approving architectural studies, etc.,” says the announcement, which, in addition to the three applicants, is signed by the Hellenic Society. for Environment and Culture (ELLET), Hellenic Ornithological Society, MedINA-Mediterranean Institute of Nature and Man, ANIMA – Association for the Protection and Care of Wildlife, Chamber of Environment and Sustainability and Association for the Protection of the Environment of Ioannina. The organizations launched a campaign (via the Avaaz platform) garnering around 4,000 signatures.

Recall that the case concerns two building permits from 2021 for the construction of houses with an area of ​​334 sq.m. and 365 sq.m. on a plot of 7 acres, which was bought in Papigo by businessman Antonis Laimos.

According to urban planning and the Epirus region, the site is within the boundaries of a traditional settlement – if it were outside, the site could not be built on. The opposite point of view is shared by the departments and environmental organizations operating in the area, which argue that the permit was issued illegally. The businessman himself claimed in an interview with K (see 03/21/2022) that he checked the possibility of building plots before buying them. And if it is proved in court that the site is located outside the settlement, he will restore it to its previous state at his own expense.