Greek Econ. Min.: We mean everything we say about the enforcement of legality on the beaches

The controls that have been launched throughout Greece by the competent authorities for violations on the beaches, are not for the public. This is emphasized by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, in his post on his personal Facebook account, on the occasion of today’s arrest of three businessmen in Naxos.

The businessmen in question placed umbrellas and sunbeds again, even though the authorities had ordered them to remove them as they did not have a permit.

Here is Kostis Hatzidakis’ post in detail:

“Well, it seems some people haven’t gotten it: We mean everything we say about beach enforcement! Already today they paid for it with 3 immediate prosecutions of corresponding businessmen in Naxos, who apparently did not realize that the hundreds of checks we carried out in a few days were not for show. And they went and illegally set up their umbrellas and sunbeds again.

New complaint in Mykonos: We paid 520 euros for two cocktails and some disgusting squid

As the Minister responsible for Public Property I have clear direction from the Prime Minister to enforce legality, where there is provision of services on the beaches. And this applies to all public property, of course. But personally, you will allow me to say that I have no reason to compromise with old-party notions of the type “who cares, this is Greece, every miracle lasts 3 days, etc.”.

In the context of this perception, the General Secretariat of Public Property was established after the elections. And since the appointment of the new General Secretary on July 21 until today, the controls are close to 1,000, while the identified violations exceed 350.

We did not claim that we solved all the problems of Greece within 4 years. However, just as the government clashed in Mykonos before the elections over the known arbitrariness, so it will clash over the beaches: For the sake of respecting the law, upgrading the country’s tourism product, protecting the public interest.

And can I tell you something else? Our economic policy over the last 4 years is considered an example of success in Europe, that the digital revolution is implemented, that a series of social problems are solved such as the payment of pensions and that we do not definitively solve issues such as the enforcement of the law on the beaches ! With employee leave revocations, with staff transfers, with coordination of the relevant Services and with strict supervision of the whole effort, we will succeed here as well. The rest were more difficult…”