On Thursday 15 October, the Municipality of Spata–Artemida committed a sum of 235,600 euros for the “implementation of a programme contract for the ‘Artemida Tourist Port Site Planning’ project”, in accordance with the commitment decision published on the Diafania transparency portal. The project is described in the document as ‘ongoing from 2025’: in other words, the process began last year and the funds for its continuation are being committed this year.
The commitment was made following the ‘documented request’ No. 84662/15-10-2026 ‘substantiated request’ from the Technical Services Directorate and is charged to budget code 040.2420902003 (“Expenditure on technical services”) of the 2026 budget. The budget line has been set this year at 290,800 euros; this transaction commits 235,600 euros, leaving a balance of 55,200 euros. The decision is signed by the Director of Financial Services, Anna Micha, and the Mayor, Dimitrios Markou.
What does ‘spatial planning’ mean?
Site selection is the first institutional step for any tourist port: the exact location, the land and sea zones and the permitted uses are determined on the basis of technical and environmental studies, and the process is completed by a decision published in the Government Gazette. Only after this stage can licensing and construction be discussed. In other words: the €235,600 does not relate to port works, but to the studies and the process that will determine whether and where a tourist port can be built in Artemida.
What the law does not say
The decision to proceed does not specify with which body the programme agreement has been signed, exactly where the site selection is being considered, or at what stage the studies are. A programme contract means that the municipality is collaborating with another public body — usually a development agency or the regional authority — which undertakes the technical implementation in return for a fee. We will look for the original 2025 contract and get back to you with the details: who is carrying it out, what the timetable is, and exactly what is to be delivered.
The Council’s interest in maritime infrastructure is evident elsewhere too: the agenda for the 32nd meeting of the Municipal Committee, on Tuesday 20 October at 09:00, includes the approval of ‘mooring, accommodation and other matters relating to vessels’ within the Artemida Municipal Water Sports Centre.
For local residents, there are two key points. Firstly, the Council is investing a substantial sum this year in a project which, if it goes ahead, will transform the character of Artemida’s seafront. Secondly, a tourist harbour is years away: it requires a Government Gazette notice of siting, environmental conditions, planning permissions and — most importantly — funding for construction, which has not yet appeared in any public document.
Source: Municipality of Spata–Artemida, commitment decision ref. no. 84670 (ΑΔΑ 9ΥΜ4Ω1Χ-ΘΘΑ), Diaugia, 15 October 2026.
