Reopening of catering establishments and cafes - the rules and regulations
catering
17 May 2020
/ 12:41
ATHENS. The Minister of the Interior Takis Theodorikakos to present the new legislation for tables and chairs in public areas to Parliament.
Minister of the Interior Takis Theodorikakos will be presenting the legislation with amendments to Parliament which will allow catering establishments to extend tables and chairs to public areas.
The amendments will be added to the Ministry of Tourism legislation: 'Special forms of tourism and provisions for tourist development'.
The amendments will be in force until 31 December 2020 and the aim of the Government and the Ministry of the Interior is to limit the impact of the measures put in place for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The amendment being put forward by the Minister allows up to 100% extension of tables and chairs in public areas without any charges if it is possible and if the passgae of pedestrians and those with special needs remains unimpeded.
It also allows Municipalities, under certain conditions, to pedestrianise specific streets for a few hours or all day in order to make more space available for tables and chairs outside catering establishments or to create special lanes for pedestrians, cyclists or low-level traffic.
In the case of violations, such as taking over public areas without permission, there will be fines equal to the tax that would have to be paid for the area that has been taken over illegally. If the infringement is repeated, the licence will be revoked for up to three months.
In the case of establishments where it is not possible to extend the area, Municipalities are allowed to reduce the tax by as much as 50%.
The regulations that will be presented:
1. Until 31/12/2020 catering establishments will be able to extend their permitted area for tables and chairs without charge into adjacent / non-adjacent public areas on application and as long as no rights of use by others are violated.
The area granted can be up to twice the size of the existing space or able to accommodate the same number of tables and chairs as the existing licensed area - but not three times the size.
Applications can be submitted online. Permission for establishments in squares is given in line with existing laws and in streets following approval from the relevant police authority.
Neither permanent nor temporary constructions are allowed in the extension area and speakers are also not allowed.
2. For permission to be granted there must be unimpeded passage for pedestrians and vehicles and special needs crossings must not be blocked. When tables, chairs and umbrellas have been placed in the extension area there must be unimpeded passage for pedestrians of at least 1.5 metres.
Tables and chairs in the extension area must not block guide dogs for the visually impaired.
There must be unimpeded access to any Public Service Companies or Utility Companies - entrances, exits and car parks must not be blocked. Access for emergency vehicles must also not be blocked.
3. If space for extension is not available, the Municipality can reduce the charges imposed corresponding to the reduction in tables and chairs up to 50%.
4. The Mayor has the power to appoint an inspection team to monitor the extra space used by establishments as well as the noise levels. Municipal teams can also remove any items from the extension area wherenecessary.
5. If public areas are taken over without permission, there will be fines equal to the tax that would have to be paid for the area that has been taken over illegally and tables, chairs and other items will be immediately removed. If the infringement is repeated within three months, the establishment's licence will be revoked for three months.
6. If a licence has been temporarily revoked, it is not possible to set up another catering establishment in the same space during that period.
7. The Municipality has the power to close roads to traffic for a few hours or for the whole day as well as to temporarily prohibit parking as long as there is unimpeded access for emergency vehicles, permanent residents and those with special needs.
The Municipality can also create temporary lanes for pedestrians, cyclists and restricted traffic.
Source: Skai.gr
The amendments will be added to the Ministry of Tourism legislation: 'Special forms of tourism and provisions for tourist development'.
The amendments will be in force until 31 December 2020 and the aim of the Government and the Ministry of the Interior is to limit the impact of the measures put in place for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The amendment being put forward by the Minister allows up to 100% extension of tables and chairs in public areas without any charges if it is possible and if the passgae of pedestrians and those with special needs remains unimpeded.
It also allows Municipalities, under certain conditions, to pedestrianise specific streets for a few hours or all day in order to make more space available for tables and chairs outside catering establishments or to create special lanes for pedestrians, cyclists or low-level traffic.
In the case of violations, such as taking over public areas without permission, there will be fines equal to the tax that would have to be paid for the area that has been taken over illegally. If the infringement is repeated, the licence will be revoked for up to three months.
In the case of establishments where it is not possible to extend the area, Municipalities are allowed to reduce the tax by as much as 50%.
The regulations that will be presented:
1. Until 31/12/2020 catering establishments will be able to extend their permitted area for tables and chairs without charge into adjacent / non-adjacent public areas on application and as long as no rights of use by others are violated.
The area granted can be up to twice the size of the existing space or able to accommodate the same number of tables and chairs as the existing licensed area - but not three times the size.
Applications can be submitted online. Permission for establishments in squares is given in line with existing laws and in streets following approval from the relevant police authority.
Neither permanent nor temporary constructions are allowed in the extension area and speakers are also not allowed.
2. For permission to be granted there must be unimpeded passage for pedestrians and vehicles and special needs crossings must not be blocked. When tables, chairs and umbrellas have been placed in the extension area there must be unimpeded passage for pedestrians of at least 1.5 metres.
Tables and chairs in the extension area must not block guide dogs for the visually impaired.
There must be unimpeded access to any Public Service Companies or Utility Companies - entrances, exits and car parks must not be blocked. Access for emergency vehicles must also not be blocked.
3. If space for extension is not available, the Municipality can reduce the charges imposed corresponding to the reduction in tables and chairs up to 50%.
4. The Mayor has the power to appoint an inspection team to monitor the extra space used by establishments as well as the noise levels. Municipal teams can also remove any items from the extension area wherenecessary.
5. If public areas are taken over without permission, there will be fines equal to the tax that would have to be paid for the area that has been taken over illegally and tables, chairs and other items will be immediately removed. If the infringement is repeated within three months, the establishment's licence will be revoked for three months.
6. If a licence has been temporarily revoked, it is not possible to set up another catering establishment in the same space during that period.
7. The Municipality has the power to close roads to traffic for a few hours or for the whole day as well as to temporarily prohibit parking as long as there is unimpeded access for emergency vehicles, permanent residents and those with special needs.
The Municipality can also create temporary lanes for pedestrians, cyclists and restricted traffic.
Source: Skai.gr
