Nevertheless, the Ministry assures that the process will be completed and institutionalized within the timeframes set by the Recovery Fund.
In detail, the stage at which the preparation process of the Local Urban Plans (T.P.S.) currently stands was presented during the official parliamentary briefing, in response to a question submitted by sixteen SYRIZA Members of Parliament concerning the progress of completing the Local Urban Plans, by the competent Secretary General for Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Mr. Bakogiannis.
Specifically, the MPs requested an official update from the responsible ministry on the following points:
How many Local Urban Plans have been fully completed and officially approved by Presidential Decree?
How many Local Urban Plans have merely been delivered as studies, without being institutionally finalized?
How many milestones of the Recovery Fund related to the Local Urban Plans have been modified, postponed, or excluded?
What is your plan to ensure the quality and timely completion of the studies, beyond the mere “formal acceptance of studies”?
What is the actual timeline for the approval of all Local Urban Plans, and how will it be ensured that the “European emergency solution” does not become a permanent excuse?
No Local Urban Plan study has been fully completed
According to the Ministry, no Local Urban Plan study has been fully completed and officially approved by Presidential Decree to date, as the procedures are still ongoing. The duration for the preparation of these studies is defined by Decision No. ΥΠΕΝ/ΔΠΟΛΣ/72343/1885 of the Deputy Minister for Environment and Energy, based on the time elapsed since the signing of the contract between the competent authority and the contractor. Institutional ratification will follow upon completion of Stage 2 and approval by the competent bodies, in accordance with the applicable regulatory framework.
As of today, 219 Local Urban Plan studies have been contracted, structured into four (4) groups:
- Group A: 12 studies
- Group B: 124 studies
- Group C: 74 studies
- Group D: 9 studies
Of these, 36 studies are at the initial preparation stage (Stage 1 – development of alternative scenarios), 87 studies have completed or submitted Stage 1, and 96 studies are already at Stage 2 (Proposal stage), moving toward institutional approval.
Among the Recovery Fund milestones related to the Local Urban Plan Program, one milestone revision has been made to take into account the jurisprudence of the Council of State.
The preparation and monitoring of the Local Urban Plan studies are conducted in accordance with Ministerial Decision No. ΥΠΕΝ/ΔΝΕΠ/69553/2588 of the Minister for Environment and Energy, as well as the provisions of Law 4412/2016.
The studies are supervised by Committees for Monitoring, Oversight, and Acceptance, while their progress is recorded in an Integrated Information System of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), which serves as the implementing body for the program.
This process ensures transparency, quality control, and adherence to the specifications approved by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (ΥΠΕΝ).
The timeline for the preparation and institutional approval of the studies is determined by Decision No. ΥΠΕΝ/ΔΠΟΛΣ/72343/1885 of the Deputy Minister for Environment and Energy.
The progress of the studies is systematically monitored by the competent committees of TEE, pursuant to Decision No. ΥΠΕΝ/ΔΝΕΠ/69553/2588 of the Minister for Environment and Energy, as amended and in force, so as to guarantee the timely completion and institutionalization of the Local Urban Plans within the deadlines set by the Recovery Fund.
Extension Granted
A “breathing space” has been provided for the completion of urban planning studies being prepared across the country, following the European Commission’s decision to show flexibility regarding the completion deadline under the Recovery Fund framework.
The European Commission has agreed to consider urban planning studies as completed if they have been reviewed and accepted by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (ΥΠΕΝ) by April 2026, even if they have not yet been subjected to public consultation or officially ratified.
This development offers a time extension for approximately 60% of the ongoing urban planning studies and ensures their funding, without jeopardizing the absorption of European resources.
