The process for the repair and reconstruction of fire-damaged buildings will begin on September 1st, as announced by Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, responsible for State Relief matters, Kostas Katsafados. Speaking on ANT1, he addressed the progress of recovery efforts in areas affected by the July and August wildfires, the reforms being introduced to the state relief framework, and the country’s operational readiness in responding to natural disasters. He also commented on Greek-Turkish relations, stressing that Greece has not relinquished any of its sovereign rights.
Katsafados: Applications for fire-damaged buildings open from September 1st
Kostas Katsafados announced that, for the first time, the process of designating areas affected by the July and August 2026 wildfires was completed in less than one month. This milestone clears the way for activating the state relief framework, both for damage restoration and for the temporary housing of citizens who have lost or are unable to use their homes.
From September 1st, applications for the repair and reconstruction of damaged buildings will be accepted. On the same date, a dedicated call center will be launched to inform citizens about deadlines, procedures, and the required steps to follow.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that the top priority is ensuring that no citizen whose primary residence has been deemed uninhabitable is left without shelter. Affected residents will be eligible for a rental subsidy to cover temporary housing, with the amount depending on household size and composition.
State relief: The goal is faster disbursement of funds
The Deputy Minister noted that requests submitted by municipalities for initial aid — covering household essentials and basic living needs — are being processed immediately. He cited the Municipality of Mandra-Eidyllia and the Porto Germeno wildfire as a prime example, where payments to affected residents began within just eight days of the disaster.
Meanwhile, the new legislative framework for State Relief is expected to significantly streamline the process. Once the legislation is enacted and digital platforms are activated, citizens will be able to submit their applications electronically and — through interoperability between government services — receive their entitled support within four days of submission.
The process for building repair and reconstruction will also be conducted entirely online through the e-Permits (e-Άδειες) platform, eliminating the need to submit physical files to the relevant authorities. “Everything we have said and everything we have done up to now for all these disasters will, in two months’ time, operate within a completely different framework,” Katsafados stated.
“Climate change doesn’t start fires”
Commenting on this year’s wildfire season, the Deputy Minister acknowledged that conditions remain particularly challenging, but maintained that the Civil Protection mechanism has been substantially reinforced, resulting in the vast majority of wildfires being contained swiftly.
He highlighted two key pillars for addressing the climate crisis: a holistic management approach — spanning prevention, response, and recovery — and close collaboration between the ministry and the Fire Service, Local Government, Security Forces, Armed Forces, volunteers, and the scientific community. He also noted that Greece operates one of the largest aerial firefighting fleets in Europe.
Regarding the destruction in Boeotia, he explained that the fire developed under exceptionally difficult conditions due to extreme weather and very strong wind gusts.
“Climate change does not start fires. The overwhelming majority of wildfires are caused by human activity — whether through negligence or arson. What climate change does alter are the conditions under which fires ignite and spread, making firefighting efforts significantly more demanding in many cases,” he emphasized.
Katsafados on Greek-Turkish relations: “We have not relinquished a single sovereign right”
Kostas Katsafados also addressed criticism that the government has adopted a policy of appeasement toward Turkey, firmly rejecting such characterizations.
“We have one issue with Turkey: the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf. There is nothing else to divide us from our neighbors. For us, that is the only dispute,” he stated.
The Deputy Minister underlined that Greece has demonstrated its resolve to defend its sovereign rights during crises in both the Evros region and the Aegean Sea. He also linked the country’s “calm waters” diplomatic approach to the simultaneous strengthening of the Armed Forces and the acquisition of advanced weapons systems.
“Those who are in the right have every reason to engage in dialogue,” he said, arguing that talks with Turkey are being conducted without any retreat from Greece’s national rights. He concluded by reaffirming that Greece’s overarching goal remains peace and stability in the region — without concessions on matters of national sovereignty or sovereign rights.
