Municipality of Kythira: New developments regarding port infrastructure in Kythira and Antikythira

The Municipality of Kythira has announced significant developments in the field of port infrastructure following the passing of Law 5258/2025, and in particular Article 17, which legalises the ports and port facilities in Kythira and Antikythira. The regulation, published in the Government Gazette 227/A/09-12-2025, resolves—according to the Municipality—an issue that had remained unresolved for more than 20 years and concerns all ports, fishing shelters, and accompanying building facilities.

At the same time, the Municipal Port Fund is proceeding with the designation of Port Land Zones and the preparation or completion of studies for the upgrading of port infrastructure in Agia Pelagia, Kapsali, Ammo Square, Agia Patriki, Piso Gialo, and Diakofto, with the aim of bringing projects to fruition and securing funding. The plan also includes the preparation of a Master Plan for the port of Diakofto, as well as the repair and expansion of the port of Potamos Antikythira, which has been included in the NSRF 2021–2027 funding program.

The press release also makes specific reference to the objections raised by the municipal faction «Free Kythira» during the public consultation. The municipal authority rejects these objections, arguing that the legislation concerns exclusively port infrastructure and that the opposition's comments are, in its view, unfounded and misleading.

It should be noted that the Ministry took into account the consultation on open.gov and amended the final article submitted to Parliament for voting.

Before the consultation:

After consultation:

According to the Municipality of Kythira, the above interventions are part of an overall plan to improve the functionality and safety of the ports in Kythira and Antikythira.

The press release from the Municipal Authority follows.

Port policy prospects from the Municipality of Kythira

1. Legalization of the ports of Kythira and Antikythira

The Municipality of Kythira is pleased to announce that with the Article 17 of Law 5258/2025 «Port and Ship Security Supervisory Unit and other provisions», published in Government Gazette No. 227/A/09-12-2025 and following the relevant vote on the Law by the Plenary Session of the Hellenic Parliament, The issue of legalizing port infrastructure on the islands of Kythira and Antikythira, which has been troubling our municipality for over 20 years, has been definitively resolved.. This is Implementation of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' commitment to the Mayor of Kythira, Mr. Stratos Charhalakis, during the meeting on Kythira at the Maximos Mansion on July 29, 2025.. The regulation and its explanatory memorandum were prepared under the responsibility of the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers. Mr. Stelios Koutnatzi, while there was ongoing cooperation between the Mayor and the relevant Ministries. Special thanks go to: first and foremost, the Mayor himself Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as well as to the Minister of the Interior Mr. Theodoros Livaniou, to the Minister of Shipping Mr. Vasilis Kikilias, to the Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis Mr. Kostas Katsafados and to the Deputy Minister of Shipping Mr. Stefanos Gikas for their positive contribution. The regulation satisfies a long-standing request by our Municipality, which has been expressed with a wealth of documents from 2015 to the present day, which documented the need to legalize the ports of the Municipality of Kythira with a special provision of law. The legalisation achieved concerns all ports, port infrastructure, fishing shelters and their buildings, most of which were constructed decades ago by state agencies or the Region/Prefecture without the relevant approvals, at a time when the State considered that public works were exempt from the issuance of permits.Prefecture without the relevant approvals, at a time when the State considered that public works were exempt from the issuance of permits.. Now, one of the most serious outstanding issues of the past is resolved, and the institution of Domestic Property is further strengthened. and the Municipality and the Port Fund are given the opportunity to implement important infrastructure projects in our ports, while The procedures for leasing the premises at the Port of Diakofto (KYE, 2 agencies, car rental companies, etc.) as well as a new lease with increased rent for the building at the Port of Kapsali, which is leased by the Ministry of Finance for Customs and is based on a 1998 lease that could not be renewed due to the obligation to bring the building into compliance with urban planning regulations, which was achievedby the regulation.

2. Land Port Zones

In this regard, and in direct connection with the legalization of the ports of Kythira/Antikythira through the above legislative regulation, there is also the procedure for determining Port Land Zones These have already been assigned by the Municipal Port Fund to the company «TRITON Consulting Engineers SA,» one of the most experienced in the field of port studies. The relevant contract, worth €20,000, is financed entirely from the Port Fund's own resources and, once the relevant procedures have been completed, another important institutional issue for the ports of Kythira/Antikythira will be resolved.

3. Preparation of studies for the upgrading of ports in Kythira

Our municipality, through the Port Fund, is preparing important studies for the upgrading of Ports of Kythira. Specifically, studies are being prepared for the following port projects:

• Creation of a safe marina and project to prevent natural silting of the existing marina of Agia Pelagia, Kythira. The studies have been completed (Study budget: 60.000€ – FILODIMOS program). The project budget amounts to 3.200.000€.
• Repair of the port of Pl. Ammos, the Kapsali fishing shelter, and preliminary study for the installation of a mooring buoy in Kapsali. The studies have been completed. Study budget: 75.000€ – Attica Region.
• Restoration and upgrading of the fishing shelter at Agia Patrikia, Kythira. Deadline for completion of studies: 21-01-2026. Study budget: 50.000€ – FILODIMOS program.
• Construction and operation of a tourist boat mooring facility (marina) in Piso Gialos, Kapsali. Completion deadline: 16-03-2026. Study budget: 180.000€ – FILODIMOS program.
• Improvement of protection for the Diakofto fishing shelter in Kythira. Completion deadline: 01-07-2026. Study budget: 50.000€ – FILODIMOS program.

For each study that is completed, the Municipal Authority immediately initiates the relevant procedures for issuing environmental permits (AEPO) and other permits, in order to ensure that the files are complete and increase the likelihood of obtaining significant resources for the implementation of the projects.

4. Preparation Master Plan Port of Diakofto, Kythira

Following the successful completion of the legalisation process for our municipality's ports and their building infrastructure, the Municipal Port Fund will immediately proceed with multi-year lease procedure for the KYE in the port building of Diakofto, which remains vacant due to long-standing urban planning issues.

In addition, the 2026 Port Fund Budget will include an amount for the preparation of a Development Plan (Master Plan) of the Port of Diakofto, which will include not only the necessary new port works and commercial uses as required in the central port of a tourist island.

5. Study and financing of the expansion project for the Port of Antikythira

The project «Repair and extension of the breakwater at Antikythira River» has been included by the Ministry of Shipping in the 17 strategic port projects of the Development Program of Contracts of Strategic Importance with funding from the NSRF Sectoral Program «Transport 2021-2027» (relevant press release from the Ministry of Shipping, 14/08/2024).

The Municipal Port Fund has commissioned the preparation of the Construction Study and all necessary studies (Special Ecological Assessment of areas NATURA, budget, issues, AEPO) with a completion date set for the next six months. This will be followed by the decision to include the project and the tender process.

Plans include extending the breakwater by approximately 2,500 m², correcting its orientation, constructing a small quay for the safe mooring of tourist and fishing boats, the removal of reefs from the port, and the construction of a passenger terminal using KYE.. The project will help ensure uninterrupted ferry service to Antikythira and strengthen the local community with a modern port infrastructure capable of safely accommodating passenger and tourist vessels as the island's strategic location makes it a transit point for a large number of tourist boats and pleasure craft.

6. The false accusations of the «ELEFTHERIA KYTHIRA» faction»

This particular faction is known to be opposed to any attempt to institutionally upgrade domestic property, and has remained silent for 14 months regarding the decisions of the Council of State on pilgrimages. Unable to hide its irritation at this regulation, it attempted to series of unfounded comments in the public consultation, to diminish its value and link it to issues that not only do not fall within its remit, but were never requested by the Municipality. Specifically:

• The regulation concerns only port infrastructure, These were discussed at the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister (as confirmed by Deputy Minister Kostas Katsafados at the Kythira Town Hall).
• The correspondence of the Municipality over the last 10 years, as well as the draft provision sent in July by the Mayor of Kythira to the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, concern exclusively the legalization of port infrastructure.
• The provision expressly states to administrative penalties rather than criminal penalties.
• The attempt to disrupt the relationship between the Municipality of Kythira and other municipalities in the country with the argument «Why should they only be legalized in Kythira?» is unethical. This is because Only in Kythira do the ports belong to the municipality, while in The rest of Greece belongs to the State.!
• The draft provision as posted for public consultation and referred to in «Existing public utility infrastructure projects and their supporting building infrastructure» remained exactly that way in Article 14(c) of the enacted Law and specialized exclusively in port infrastructure – precisely in accordance with the request of the Municipality of Kythira – in Article 17 thereof. The relevant Government Gazette is beyond dispute. Moreover, the position taken by the Mayor of Kythira at the hearing of stakeholders in the Hellenic Parliament, prior to the passing of the law, leaves no room for misinterpretation. The comments posted by the ELEFTHERIA KYTHIRA faction in the public consultation—as well as those posted by its few supporters—are a monument to falsehood, deception, and slander, and as such will be treated.

Our municipality, with a clear plan and methodical work, is completing studies for major port projects and will seek funding for them in the coming years, with the aim of improving port infrastructure and, consequently, the quality of life for residents and visitors. This is because major projects are difficult to implement, requiring a lengthy process of development and licensing, with a plan and vision that citizens know the Mayor and the Municipal Authority have, and which they have trusted in three consecutive elections.