Athens Mayor to Regulate Seating, Calls for Respect of Public Space

Syntagma Square, Athens © Maria Theofanopoulou

The Athens Municipality is moving ahead with the regulation of cafe and restaurant seating in efforts to improve the standard of living and restore trade and consumer activity in the Greek capital.

Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis

“The municipality is drawing the line,” said Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis in a statement, adding that “Athens is changing by the day, it’s making a comeback. New businesses are opening up, jobs are being created, commercial and economic activity is recovering, while tourism and the overall visibility of the capital are at a constant record high.”

The move is part of the municipal authority’s ongoing city overhaul scheme,  which also includes removing abandoned vehicles, cleaning up waste, freeing up public space, repairing benches, enhance green spaces and clearing building facades. The program aims to transform Athens’ commercial center into a functional model with regulated public space, parking and vehicle traffic, catering hours and efficient waste management.

Plaka, Athens. Photo © Maria Theofanopoulou

“I am calling on all residents. Let’s walk the line together. Let’s protect public space. Let’s start from Kolonaki, the Acropolis and Agia Eirini,” said Kaminis via his twitter account.

“No city can evolve without its inhabitants. The time has come to demonstrate that healthy entrepreneurship and quality of life can coexist. There can be no economic growth without respect. The protection of public space and city infrastructure is a non-negotiable priority for the municipality.”