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The recent position taken by the Law Office regarding the installation of photovoltaic parks on fertile agricultural land and the exclusion of reallocation areas from photovoltaic park installations brings to the fore an increasingly pressing issue: How can we achieve the energy transition without undermining the country’s food security and agricultural self-sufficiency?

The need for renewable energy sources is indisputable. The same applies, however, to the need to protect productive land—land that becomes locked away for a considerable period once it is licensed for renewable energy unit construction. The legal positions confirm that the existing framework presents gaps and ambiguities, mainly concerning environmental studies, conflicts of interest, and the possibility of licence revocation. The principles of administrative law do provide guidance, but without clear and binding political will, the issues will continue to be addressed piecemeal.

Particular concern arises from the possibility that licensing may continue on fertile agricultural land. The Law Office underlines the need for legislative coverage on critical matters, a message that must be taken seriously by the state. The green transition cannot proceed at agriculture’s expense. What is required is national planning, with spatial planning criteria, transparency in procedures, and long-term vision.

Α.Ν.

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