Summary
Details
- Greece
Binding for all project developers, municipal authorities and industrial facilities.
They must:
Conduct environmental impact assessments where required.
Obtain environmental permits before construction or operation.
Follow emission, discharge and waste-management conditions set by authorities.
Take preventive or remedial action in case of environmental harm.
Exceptions:
Very small, low-impact activities may be exempt from full EIA.
Activities already covered under sector-specific permitting may follow modified requirements.
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What’s Required
Law 1650/1986 is Greece’s oldest and most fundamental environmental protection framework. It establishes:
Core principles of environmental protection, pollution control, and sustainable development.
The basis for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures for public and private projects.
Rules on air, water, soil protection, noise, and waste management (later expanded or amended by newer laws).
Requirements for environmental permitting and compliance monitoring.
Liability for environmental damage caused by industrial or development activities.
Important Deadlines
In force since 1986, but continuously amended.
Core EIA rules were later restructured under Law 4014/2011, but Law 1650/1986 remains the legal foundation.
Current Status
Though modernized by subsequent laws, Law 1650/1986 still forms the backbone of Greece’s environmental legislation. Most current environmental permits and EIAs rely on their principles and definitions.
Penalties
Administrative fines for violations of environmental permits.
Criminal sanctions for serious pollution incidents.
Liability for remediation of environmental damage.
Examples
Numerous enforcement actions over the decades involved illegal discharges, unpermitted industrial activities, and incomplete EIAs.
High-profile cases involving waste mismanagement and water pollution.
Resources
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