Samothrace land ownership dispute seeks ministerial intervention

The Union of Remote Friends & Diaspora of Samothrace, ‘I AXIEROS’, is calling for urgent government intervention to resolve a long-standing land ownership dispute on the island of Samothrace. The issue involves a request to classify the island as a non-cadastral area under the exceptions of Article 62 of Law 998/1979.

The dispute has been pending since 2021, following initial requests by former Mayor Nikolas Galatomos. Despite subsequent submissions by current Mayor Athanasios Vitsas to both the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Digital Governance, no final resolution has been reached. Local residents and officials argue that state claims on island lands create significant obstacles for property owners and hinder regional development.

Local stakeholders are seeking a meeting with the Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, during his scheduled visit to Alexandroupoli on September 3, 2026, to demand a legislative solution to the impasse.