The State Council Assembly found that the settlement law 4014/2011 for illegal buildings to be unconstitutional. This decision affects 500,000 citizens, who rushed to settle building violations under the infamous law.
According to legal cycles, the Council of State has not yet determined if the funds paid by these citizens will be returned. In any case, officers from the Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change explained that they will have to conform to the rule, whatever it might be and that they will seek out solutions for individuals who had settled with the government.
The Council pointed out that the law contradicts article 24, paragraph 2 of the Constitution, on the protection of the environment, city planning etc. Furthermore, the legalization of such buildings would contradict constitutional principles of equality state fairness and authorities respecting and protecting human value.
They rejected the claim that public interest necessitated further violating the urban environment. This is not the first time the Council of State has found such settlement laws to be unconstitutional.
The Council’s Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou explained that the 1337/1983 law on illegal buildings (the “Tritsis” law) was more than enough, meaning that illegal buildings constructed after the 31st of January 1983 will be demolished.
