Greece. Milos, megahotel on "Moon Beach" halted. "It doesn't meet environmental standards."

Milos. A controversial hotel project near Sarakiniko, one of Greece's most famous beaches on this popular Cycladic island, has been halted, much to the satisfaction of local authorities. The municipal council of the island, also known for its Venus statue, discovered in the 19th century, said in a statement Wednesday that its planning department had revoked the building permit for the hotel near the beach, also known as "Moon Beach," due to its shape.

"During the inspection, it was discovered that the required documents had not been submitted," the statement read, emphasizing that "no construction will take place on the island without full compliance with environmental laws and requirements."

The dispute after the work had already begun

The controversy surrounding the Sarakiniko project, led by a Greek company, began in February, prompting authorities to review the building permit despite construction having already begun. Given the proliferation of construction projects in tourist areas in recent years, as part of a policy to promote tourism and construction—the driving forces of the Greek economy—local and judicial authorities have tightened controls to protect the environment, often damaged by the lack of rigorous inspections.

A few years ago, residents of a neighborhood near the Acropolis in Athens won an appeal before the Council of State, the highest administrative court, against a recently completed ten-story five-star hotel , criticized for being too tall for the area. Based on the ruling, the Ministry of Culture was forced to order the demolition of the hotel's top two floors, which will take place starting in 2027.