Council of State fines Greek state over Makrygianni hotel demolition

The Council of State has imposed a new 20,000 euro fine on the Greek state due to continued failure to comply with a 2019 ruling regarding the demolition of a ten-story hotel in the Makrygianni area.

The court order requires the demolition of unauthorized sections of the Coco-Mat hotel, specifically the top two floors and the rooftop, which exceed the permitted height limits within the protected archaeological zone near the Acropolis. Despite progress in initiating demolition studies, the Council of State noted that full compliance has not been achieved seven years after the original decision.

Notably, the Council highlighted that two previous fines imposed for non-compliance have yet to be paid to the citizens who filed the lawsuit. The court emphasized the necessity of protecting the monuments of the Sacred Rock, the Acropolis Museum, and the surrounding environment. Under new legislative frameworks, the administration faces the possibility of repeated financial penalties if compliance is not met.