Nicosia, Cyprus. Environment Commissioner Antonia Theodosiou has requested the immediate cancellation and withdrawal of environmental approval for the Baths of Aphrodite-Fontana Amorosa roadwork in Akamas, citing legal and ecological breaches.
Request to cancel environmental approval
In a letter addressed on Monday to the agriculture ministry and the presidential palace, Theodosiou called for the immediate cancellation of the approval. She said the project should not proceed under current conditions and raised concerns over compliance with environmental obligations.
Ecological risks and protected areas
Theodosiou warned of risks of irreversible damage to protected coastal and forest ecosystems.
Concerns over design limits and widening works
She said the approved design exceeds limits set in earlier ecological assessments, with widening works extending beyond thresholds established for the route, previously capped at a maximum of 300 metres.
Barcelona Protocol concerns
She warned that coastal protection requirements have not been adequately studied and said this exposes Cyprus to what she described as a risk of violating the provisions of the Barcelona Protocol.
Discrepancies in road width documents
Theodosiou drew attention to discrepancies in road width parameters, saying official planning documents indicate narrower specifications than those now being implemented.
Governance and conflict-of-interest allegation
The commissioner raised governance concerns, pointing to the forestry department acting both as project promoter and participant in the committee that reviewed the ecological assessment. According to news outlet Stockwatch, she alleged this creates a potential conflict of interest.
Environmental organisations’ dissent
She reiterated that dissenting opinions from environmental organisations were not fully reflected in the final approval, despite being attached to the environmental decision.
What steps should authorities take next regarding the environmental approval for the Akamas roadwork?