Leros Seeks EUR 2.09m for Strategic Studies

Leros Municipal Committee unanimously approved a EUR 2,092,128 funding application to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum for nine studies considered strategically important to the island.

The decision concerned a programme entitled Preparation of Studies of Strategic Importance for the Municipality of Leros. It was taken at an urgent committee meeting on 28 July 2026.

Those present were Leros mayor and committee chairman Timotheos Kottakis and councillors Georgios-Antonios Koutouzos and Eleni Chelmi. Opposition members Michalis Kolias and Vasilis Merabeliotis were absent, so the decision was carried by the three governing-group members present.

What the proposal includes

The application covered nine studies for major projects and infrastructure on Leros:

Redevelopment of the site formerly used as the first reception centre for migrants, known as the hot spot.
Construction of a bioclimatic municipal swimming pool.
Structural reinforcement and energy improvements at Lakki nursery school.
Structural reinforcement and energy upgrades at six school buildings.
Expansion of the municipal abattoir to create a cattle slaughter line.
Structural reinforcement and energy improvements at the Agia Marina market building.
Creation of a facility to treat and manage septic-tank waste.
Design and development of walking trails and cycling routes.
Restoration and reuse of Lakki Municipal Market.

The municipal directorate for environment, planning and technical services estimated the fees for the studies at about EUR 3.89 million, including VAT.

Sympoliteia, a local authority development organisation operated by the municipalities of Marousi and Iraklio in Attica, submitted a technical and financial offer of EUR 1,128,400 including VAT to prepare, complete and approve the studies.

The decision said the offer represented a 71 per cent reduction from the estimated fees.

Two years of technical support

The same proposal included technical and administrative support for the Municipality of Leros over 24 months, with a budget of EUR 963,728 including VAT.

The support would cover supervision and monitoring of projects, checks on studies and tender documents, procedures for co-financed projects, tendering and the operation of the technical services, water and sewerage departments.

It also provided for monitoring the telemetry system, creating a digital register of municipal assets, developing an online platform through which residents and visitors could report faults and problems, and producing audiovisual material promoting development projects and Leros.

The recommendation said the municipality's technical service was seriously understaffed and that outside technical support was essential to deliver the 2026 to 2028 technical programme.

The committee also approved Sympoliteia's technical and financial offer, on condition that the Municipality of Leros secured the requested funding from the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.