Greek MEP Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left) has asked the European Commission whether it will suspend Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funding for a cable car project at the archaeological site of Monemvasia Castle, citing alleged illegal construction without a building permit and potential breaches of EU environmental and cultural heritage law. The question, tabled on 3 July 2026, targets a EUR 6.8 million project co-financed by the RRF and implemented by the Municipality of Monemvasia, the Region of Peloponnese and the Greek Ministry of Culture.
first, whether the Commission is aware that the project lacks planning permits and an approved geological stability study, and uses rock excavation methods that deviate from original approvals; second, whether starting construction of a public building on a national road and within an archaeological zone without a building permit breaches EU environmental standards under Directive 2011/92/EU and the principles of the rule of law; third, whether the Commission will verify the legality of RRF disbursements and, if necessary, suspend funding as a precautionary measure given the project’s September 2026 completion deadline.
The MEP’s intervention signals a push for stricter enforcement of EU funding rules and environmental impact assessment requirements in cultural heritage sites. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it views the alleged irregularities as a breach of sound financial management or a matter for national authorities. The case pits cultural heritage protection and rule-of-law compliance against the rapid deployment of RRF funds, with potential implications for EU-funded infrastructure projects in sensitive archaeological zones.