The Ministry of Environment and Energy submitted two weeks after the submission of an amendment to harmonize the legislation with the CoE case law for the Knockout and the publication of Law 5197/2025 in Government Gazette A ’76/16-5-2025, in the Council of State of Presidential Decree (Decimation), which, on the one hand, defines what constitutes the start of construction work, on the other, determines the process of approving the Special Environmental Equity Plan (ESPIAP) to compensate for the use of NOK incentives.
With this PD, building activity is permanently released, as ambiguity is lifted with the use of NOK incentives.
So, for the first time:
1. A clear and inclusive definition of building work is providedestablishing specific and acceptable evidence for its documentation. The designation of the start of the construction work will include the start of the excavations or in the event of the addition of concrete, proof of documents, the demolition within the property, if it was made after June 11, 2024, as well as archaeological excavations under an existing building permit, if they were carried out by 11 December.
2. Define Environmental Equity Measureswhich will be applied to the municipal unit level -except in Attica and Thessaloniki, where they will be applied at the municipal level.
These measures, provided as compensatory interventions to upgrade the urban environment, are as follows:
- Acquiring real estate for public spaces, proportional to the overrun.
- Configuration and upgrading of public spaces.
- Creating and improving green networks.
- Demolition of arbitrary or dangerous buildings.
- Integrated renovations in degraded or protected areas.
- Funding actions for “smart” and climate neutral cities.
- Obtaining and restoring preserved buildings by Local Authorities.
- Cleaning and promoting streams.
- Creating green spaces.
3. The process of drawing up and approval of ESPIAPS specializesexplicitly predicting which bodies are implementing it and how it is funded.
4. Determine the amount of the environmental equivalent, the procedure and the debtors of the payment of. This amount will be paid to a special account of the Deposits and Loans Fund and will be available exclusively to the beneficiary municipality for the implementation of environmental equivalent actions.
Finally, the PD forms, in conjunction with Law 5197/2025, a coherent and secure regulatory framework, which ensures the maximum transparency and predictability in the issuance and power of building permits.