The deadline for clearing plots of land and submitting the relevant declarations expires on Monday (June 22), with the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection making it clear that no further extension will be granted.
According to the latest available data, as of the morning of June 19, 574,894 declarations had been submitted to the special platform. Owners, usufructuaries, tenants, and subtenants are required to complete the necessary work and keep their plots clean throughout the fire prevention season.
Once the work is completed, citizens must submit their declaration via the ministry’s online application. For those who are objectively unable to do so, assistance is available through the Citizen Service Centers (KEP) and local Fire Departments.
On-site inspections begin on Tuesday
The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas, has announced that inspections will begin immediately after the deadline expires.
“They should be finished by Tuesday, and we’ll begin the inspections,” he noted, explaining that responsibility for the inspections lies primarily with the municipalities, with the assistance of the Fire Department.
As he stated, inspection teams will conduct extensive on-site inspections in their respective areas of responsibility to identify uncleared plots of land and implement the prescribed procedures.
He categorically ruled out the possibility of another extension.
“The extension has been granted. The deadline is the 22nd of the month. No further extension can be granted, because the climate crisis gives us no leeway,” he emphasized.
At the same time, at a recent meeting with the deputy mayors for Civil Protection in Attica, he called on municipal authorities to accelerate their own efforts and help citizens manage their cleanup waste.
A new meeting is expected today, chaired by the minister and attended by the leadership of the Fire Department and the commanders of the country’s fire services, with the main focus on the inspections that will follow.
Fines for those who do not comply
The penalty framework is strict and provides for different fines depending on the violation.
For failure to file a declaration, a fine of 500 euros is imposed when neither cleanup nor declaration has been completed.
If cleanup has been performed but no declaration has been submitted, the fine amounts to 100 euros.
For failure to clean a plot of land or open space, a fine of 1 euro per square meter is imposed, with a minimum amount of 200 euros and a maximum of 2,000 euros.
At the same time, municipalities may proceed with cleaning on their own initiative, charging the relevant costs to the owners.
The penalties for those who submit false information are particularly severe, as they are subject to criminal penalties, including imprisonment for at least six months and a fine of 5,000 euros.
What work is considered mandatory
The obligations mainly concern land within city limits, within settlements as well as areas located up to 100 meters from their boundaries, provided they are not subject to forestry legislation.
The required tasks include:
- Removal of dry grass and plant debris
- Tree pruning and shrub thinning
- Collection and removal of cleanup materials
- Removal of flammable objects and debris
- Maintaining a low fuel load throughout the fire season
With the fire season in full swing, the government is pushing for immediate compliance, as uncleared land remains one of the main factors contributing to the spread of wildfires.
