14. 09. 2025 7:49
A new step to protect Paros — add your voice ✍️
Dear friends,
Last year, you stood with us by signing our petition to protect Paros’ identity from irreversible overbuilding. Thanks to your support, our movement grew stronger and most probably played a role in the slowdown observed in new constructions.
Now, a new threat has appeared: a so-called Special Urban Plan for a huge development in Kolimbithres — one of the island’s most precious landscapes. We believe this plan endangers both our environment and our way of life.
👉 We ask you once again to add your voice: please sign and share our new petition here: www.openpetition.eu/ekteren
Together, we can show that citizens of Paros — and friends of Paros everywhere — are determined to defend our island’s future.
With gratitude,
Paros Citizens’ Movement
09. 06. 2025 6:16
The entire Cyclades archipelago is under threat. Uncontrolled construction over the past few years has brought several islands to a tipping point, irreversibly altering their exceptional natural landscape and threatening to exhaust their natural resources, most notably water. A precedent-setting legal appeal has been filed with the Council of State on behalf of members of the Paros Citizens' Movement and ELLET(the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage), supported by the Association of Friends of Paros and Antiparos. The appeal aims to promote legal building practices and establish a clear precedent to protect the Cycladic landscape for future generations.
However, this legal action comes at a significant cost. Help us cover the legal fees and support real, lasting change.
Find out more and DONATE if you can [ whydonate.com/fundraising/paros ]
SHARE IT
19. 04. 2025 9:24
Spring apologetic-programmatic meeting
Thursday 24 March, 19:00
at the Fluxus Cinema Café (formerly Archilochos Hall)
The presentation of the movement's proposed actions and positions will also be held in English.
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It is clear to everyone that Paros is at a critical crossroads. Intensive urbanisation, along with the loss of the elements that define our island's identity, is occurring at an alarming rate. While some people support this trend and refer to it as 'natural evolution,' many are concerned about the changes taking place.
The Paros Citizens' Movement emphasizes that this form of "evolution" is not "natural" at all. It stems from the influence of outside interests and reflects a neglect of the laws that protect the present and future well-being of the island and its residents.
The Citizen's Movement unites individuals dedicated to protecting both nature and the people of Paros. Our goal is to preserve the island's authenticity and insularity while safeguarding its natural beauty and the simplicity of daily life. This is what makes Paros a cherished place to live and a paradise destination for millions of visitors from around the world.
The Paros Citizens' Movement has no leaders or representatives. It consists entirely of its members, and its success or failure, as well as its pace and energy, depends on the judgment, efforts, and collective decisions of those who participate in its actions. The presence of everyone who cares at our Assemblies is crucial for driving developments forward.
11. 04. 2025 8:46
Dear supporters of this petition
Overbuilding is becoming a significant issue on our islands, irreversibly distorting the Cycladic landscape. This situation exacerbates challenges related to water and waste management as well as traffic congestion. Residents often feel powerless as these issues emerge, particularly when regulations are poorly enforced and authorities frequently neglect their responsibilities.
Reality has demonstrated that seeking independent technical and legal expertise to challenge irregularities is the most effective action. However, this requires funding.
The Friends of Paros, one of the supporters of this petition, aims to establish a special fund to cover the costs of such expertise and legal support. We kindly ask for your participation in this funding initiative, according to your means.
Your contribution, no matter the size, will help civil society take meaningful action to preserve the unique beauty of Paros and Antiparos.
Please transfer your contribution to the Friends of Paros account with the note "fund legal expertise." If you would like, email info@friendsofparos.com to inform us if you wish to remain anonymous or not.
Thank you for standing with us in this important cause!
Bank account details:
Alpha Bank
Beneficiary: Friends of Paros
IBAN: GR8101406250625002002002615
Reason: fund legal expertise
11. 04. 2025 8:24
Dear supporters of this petition
Overbuilding is becoming a significant issue on our islands, irreversibly distorting the Cycladic landscape. This situation exacerbates challenges related to water and waste management as well as traffic congestion. Residents often feel powerless as these issues emerge, particularly when regulations are poorly enforced and authorities frequently neglect their responsibilities.
Reality has demonstrated that seeking independent technical and legal expertise to challenge irregularities is the most effective action. However, this requires funding.
The Friends of Paros, one of the supporters of this petition, aims to establish a special fund to cover the costs of such expertise and legal support. We kindly ask for your participation in this funding initiative, according to your means.
Your contribution, no matter the size, will help civil society take meaningful action to preserve the unique beauty of Paros and Antiparos.
Please transfer your contribution to the Friends of Paros account with the note "fund legal expertise." If you would like, email info@friendsofparos.com to inform us if you wish to remain anonymous or not.
Thank you for standing with us in this important cause!
Bank account details:
Alpha Bank
Beneficiary: Friends of Paros
IBAN: GR8101406250625002002002615
Bic/Swift: CRBAGRAAXXX
Reason: fund legal expertise
07. 03. 2025 10:34
Chers amis,
Paros change - mais dans quelle direction ?
Le plan local d'urbanisme (PLI) détermine l'avenir de notre île, notre qualité de vie, l'environnement et l'héritage que nous laisserons à nos enfants. Nous vous invitons à un atelier d'information et de discussion ouvert où nous découvrirons ce que le PLI signifie pour nous et comment nous pouvons influencer les développements.
Votre présence est importante !
📍 Centre culturel Aggeria
📅 Samedi 15 mars 2025
🕢 Heure : 19:00
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📍 Salle NIREA, Naoussa
📅 Dimanche 16 mars 2025
🕢 Heure : 19:00
Intervenants :
- Maria Karamanof, vice-présidente du Conseil d'État et présidente de la Chambre de l'Environnement et de la Durabilité.
- Eleni Maistrou, architecte, professeur émérite à l'Université technique nationale d'Athènes, présidente du Conseil du patrimoine architectural d'ELLET.
- Monika Themou, urbaniste, vice-présidente du Conseil du cadre institutionnel de l'ELLET
07. 03. 2025 10:32
Dear friends,
Paros is changing - but in what direction?
The Local Urban Plan (LUP) determines the future of our island, our quality of life, the environment and the heritage we will leave to our children. We invite you to an open information and discussion workshop where we will find out what the LUP means for us and how we can influence developments.
Your presence is important!
📍 Aggeria Cultural Centre
📅 Saturday 15 March 2025
🕢 Time: 19:00
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📍 NIREA Hall, Naoussa
📅 Sunday 16 March 2025
🕢 Time: 19:00
Speakers:
• Maria Karamanof, Vice-President of the Council of State and President of the Chamber of Environment and Sustainability
• Eleni Maistrou, Architect, Professor Emeritus at the National Technical University of Athens, President of the Architectural Heritage Council of ELLET
• Monika Themou, Urban Planner, Vice President of the Council for the Institutional Framework of ELLET
20. 12. 2024 7:31
Dear signers of this,
As we mentioned in our previous communication, a group of Paros Citizens' Movement members decided to take a difficult but more effective step after realising that political pressure was not producing visible results. They have chosen to pursue legal action.
The case has been assigned to the law firm Alivisatos-Kiosopoulou & Associates ( alivizatos-kiousopoulou.com/en/ ), which has a strong reputation in administrative law matters. This decision was made to achieve our objectives better; however, it also means that the financial cost of the trial is quite high. As a Citizens' Movement, we hope that the economic burden will not fall solely on the individuals who signed the petition for the annulment of the permit. These individuals have already taken on significant financial responsibilities and risks without any personal benefit from the trial's outcome. We kindly ask those who support the necessity of this trial to contribute whatever amount they can to help share the costs.
For this purpose, please use the account of the FRIENDS OF PAROS & ANTIPAROS, to whom we extend our warmest thanks for openly expressing their support for implementing urban planning legality through legal means. When transferring your donation to their account, please indicate "legal action" as the reason for the transfer. Thank you!
Alpha Bank
IBAN : GR8101406250625002002002615
Swift/Bic: CRBAGRAAXXX
Beneficiary: Friends of Paros
Reason: Legal Action
20. 12. 2024 7:20
Dear signers of the petition,
As we mentioned in our previous communication, a group of Paros Citizens' Movement members decided to take a difficult but more effective step after realising that political pressure was not producing visible results. They have chosen to pursue legal action.
The case has been assigned to the law firm Alivisatos-Kiosopoulou & Associates ( alivizatos-kiousopoulou.com/en/ ), which has a strong reputation in administrative law matters. This decision was made to achieve our objectives better; however, it also means that the financial cost of the trial is quite high. As a Citizens' Movement, we hope that the economic burden will not fall solely on the individuals who signed the petition for the annulment of the permit. These individuals have already taken on significant financial responsibilities and risks without any personal benefit from the trial's outcome. We kindly ask those who support the necessity of this trial to contribute whatever amount they can to help share the costs.
For this purpose, please use the bank account of the FRIENDS OF PAROS & ANTIPAROS, to whom we extend our warmest thanks for openly expressing their support for implementing urban planning legality through legal means. When transferring your donation to their account, please indicate "legal action" as the reason for the transfer. Thank you!
Alpha Bank
IBAN : GR8101406250625002002002615
Swift/Bic: CRBAGRAAXXX
Beneficiary: Friends of Paros
Reason: Legal Action
16. 12. 2024 6:08
Dear supporters of our petition, we would like to inform you about our recent actions aimed at urging the implementation of specific measures for the immediate restriction of building primarily outside the zoning area.
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The Citizens' Movement of Paros
December 2024
The Paros Citizens' Movement has already highlighted the urgency of the problem of massive construction and urbanisation of our island, which, especially in recent years, seems to have gone out of control and logic.
Particularly in the Assembly of the Movement of April 19, 2024, the interest of the members of the Movement in this issue and the need for interventions in the direction of limiting building on the island became obvious.
As a first step in this direction, it was proposed and adopted after an ongoing and open discussion to exert political pressure on the Local and Central Governance by publishing a petition calling for the implementation of specific measures for the immediate restriction of mainly outside the zoning area building.
The petition, initially co-signed by 6 Parian Associations, was published in June 2024 and, at this moment, has now gathered 2,646 signatures from residents of the island but also urban planners, architects, lawyers and friends of Paros from all over the country.
At the end of August, it was submitted to the president of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Paros and the building department. It was also sent to the relevant ministries and members of Parliament for the Cyclades. But, we have yet to see any substantial change in the state of affairs. Building permits continue to be issued as usual, and buildings on every hillside and plain of the island spring up in abundance from one day to the next.
With this in mind, and after realising that political pressure did not yield visible results, a group of members of the Paros Citizens' Movement proceeded to a next, quite painful, but more effective step. Namely the judicial route.
A plea was recently filed with the Council of State on behalf of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Culture and the Environment (ELLET) and six residents of Paros. The plea seeks to annul a building permit issued by the Town Planning Department of Paros in 2024. This request arises during a time when the Council of State had clearly established strict conditions regarding construction on land outside zoning areas, as outlined in decision 176/2023.
This trial puts four key questions for our island on the table. Namely:
1- Which roads give building rights?
2- How compatible are the regulations on 'cave houses' with the Parian landscape and the approved General Urban Plan (GUP) of Paros?
3- How can dry stone terraces and paths be destroyed when the Paros GUP expressly prohibits it?
4 How tolerable is it to permit "water features" (which we all know are steadily turning into swimming pools) on mountains on an island that has never been free of water scarcity risks?
These four issues are not specific to this particular permit. On the contrary, they concern dozens and hundreds of permits that have already been issued and are still being issued by the Town Planning Department of Paros. Unfortunately, however, there is no appropriate legal way to challenge many building permits in a single lawsuit. Selecting one of the building permits was necessary to highlight the issues involved in almost all of them.
We regret that political inaction, if not political support, for deeply destructive choices and long-standing pathologies on our island has led to the necessity of litigation, with all the unpleasantness that this brings for both complainants and defendants. But, our regret does not negate the necessity. It had to be done, and it was done. In a favoured and functional state, everything would have been more wisely and gently regulated, and the institutional actors would have taken timely care to protect what needs protection without forcing citizens to bear disproportionate burdens. This has not happened in the case of our island. And when irreversible destruction is advancing inexorably, the options are narrowing.
The Citizens' Movement supports the initiative of ELLET and the private individuals who have filed the petition for annulment. A lawsuit that seeks to force the application of logic and constitutional imperatives in the protection of our island, an island designated since 1979 as a place of "special natural beauty", and which is currently being rapidly destroyed in ways that are quasi-legitimate, but not legal.
