Between December 2024 and January 2025, Terra Cypria and BirdLife Cyprus conducted several field visits and revealed the systematic violation of legally binding and substantial terms of the environmental authorization and the planning permit for the construction of a windfarm in Kellia State Forest, in Larnaca district. The windfarm is situated within a protected area included in the Natura 2000 Network, the Special Protection Area (SPA) Koshi – Pallourokampos. These violations jeopardize the conservation targets and the integrity of the protected area.
Despite several complaints filed and appeals raised to halt the unauthorized construction works, the competent authorities failed to take all necessary measures for the protection of nature. On 12.12.2024, we formally notified the Department of Environment regarding the illegal construction works. On 13.12.2024, we issued a joint announcement, entitled “Systematic violation of laws and terms during the construction of a windfarm” and sent relevant letters to the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, as well as to the Minister of Interior, denouncing the continuation of the construction works. Subsequent joint statements were released on 17.12.2024 and 19.12.2024, highlighting the ongoing violations and the lack of law enforcement.
On 19.12.2024, the Department of Environment requested in writing the immediate cessation of all construction works. However, on 20.12.2024, the Department of Environment issued a positive Opinion proceed to the ex-post legitimization of the violations we had exposed. This opinion was published on 07.01.2025, prompting us to release another joint statement, entitled “The Environmental Authority proceeded to the ex-post legalization of systematic violations of environmental legislation and legally binding terms”.
The issuance of a positive Opinion by the Department of Environment sets an extremely serious and dangerous precedent for the ex-post legalization of unauthorized interventions and illegal activities, undermining established procedures and disregarding existing laws that must be respected and upheld by all.
Since the environmental authorization of the windfarm is already included in an on-going infringement procedure of the EU directives for the protection of nature, the European Commission may now proceed to the referral of the case to the European Court of Justice.