Plans for a new Health Campus at Chania General Hospital

Scarcely a week has gone by in the past few months without press reports about the dire state of affairs at the Chania General Hospital. Protests about lack of equipment and failing infrastructure, staff discontent about overwork and understaffing, all have been highlighted in a picture of an organisation on the brink of collapse. While there is no doubt some truth in the reports, it is also true that the media have done much to promote an atmosphere of crisis, which has been downplayed by both by the Ministry of Health and the hospital management.

Infrastructure improvements
In fact there have been number of recent infrastructure improvements to the hospital. Most notably, in January 2026 it was announced that the location of the A&E department was being moved to allow for a €3.2 million modernisation of the existing facilities, funded through the Greece 2.0 programme of the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Fund. Under a contract signed in February 2025, the existing building of 686 sq m was to be extended by about 1,000 sq m, while the external area of some 2,000 sq m was to be remodelled. The completion date was originally scheduled for 30th June 2026, but with operations only relocated in January of this year, this can be expected to be overrun. A further concern will be the provision of staff for the greatly expanded unit on its completion.

Understaffing
Understaffing is admitted to be an ongoing problem at the hospital, one of the main reasons being the reluctance of qualified medical staff from other areas to move to Crete. Apart from its remoteness, a major contributing factor has been the housing situation in Chania, which like other major tourist areas has suffered from the general trend towards short-term lets by property owners, resulting in a dearth of long-term lets and to unaffordable prices for the little property which is available. A current project, promoted by Chania MP Dora Bakogianni, aims to relieve the housing situation, as reported by the Haniotika Nea on 8th October:

Plans for a Health Campus at Chania General Hospital

Those attending the meeting are grouped in a semicircle round a conference table in a wood-panelled room, a laptop and a data projector on the table in front of them, — Among those present at a meeting to discuss plans for a Health Campus at Chania General Hospital on 6th October 2026 were, from centre left, the Mayor of Chania Panagiotis Simandirakis, the Deputy Regional Governor for Chania Nikos Kalogeris, the CEO of construction company METKA Dinos Benroubi, Chania MP Dora Bakogianni, and the Director of the Chania Hospital Giorgos Beas. Photo: Dora Bakogianni/Instagram

Planning is under way for a “Health Campus” next to the General Hospital of Chania at Mournies. The complex, to be built on a 20-stremmata plot owned by the hospital, will include some 60 dwellings, an ambulance station and a nursery, and will be a step towards solving the accommodation problem encountered by healthcare professionals, which has led to them refusing postings to the area. A study which will enable funding to be sought for the project is expected to be completed within the next three months. It will be sponsored by the construction company METKA, a part of the Mytileneos Group.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting at the offices of the Regional Unit of Chania on 6th October, Chania MP Dora Bakogianni said that “The biggest problem at the hospital is not the logistical infrastructure, which has been fully covered,” but the issue of manpower, where “we need strong incentives to attract doctors, nurses and specialists. Up to now the different job postings have not met with any response and that is the biggest issue which we face. This health campus … will offer small, medium and large-sized homes according to the needs of the workers, which are modern, new and attractive so as to provide an incentive to workers to come down to Chania.”

Mrs Bakogianni, wearing a white jacket, speaks to camera with a long corridor behind her. — Speaking to reporters after the meeting at the offices of the Regional Unit of Chania on 6th October, Dora Bakogianni said: “The main thing is that the project is moving forward and we are determined that it shall be put into practice.” Photo: NeaTV/YouTube.

In his statement, the Deputy Regional Governor for Chania Nikos Kalogeris said that he was optimistic because the building plot already exists and there is no problem with the building permit, “Therefore it’s possible. It appears that the study is proceeding very quickly and Mrs Bakogianni has taken this on with METKA”. He added that the issue of funding will also be managed by Mrs Bakogianni and that the Region is ready to support this effort.

The Director of the Chania General Hospital Giorgos Beas expressed his “warmest thanks to the former minister and Chania MP Mrs Bakogianni for her initiative,” and added: “A health campus is to be created at the Hospital which will be a model for the country and the whole of Europe. Homes will be created for our healthcare staff – a strong incentive to attract them since, as we have observed over the past few years, for both nursing and medical staff a basic reason for their refusing to come and work in Chania is the inadequate and very expensive accommodation. So we are aiming to respond to this problem.”

Mr Beas said that the original plan provided for 60 dwellings, but this figure is not binding and he estimated that the exact number would be known in a couple of months. He added that in addition to the ambulance station and the nursery there would be sports training facilities and a children’s playground.

Also participating in the meeting were the president of the Union of National Health Service Doctors of Chania Christoula Petraki and the president of the Hospital’s Employees’ Association Vardis Georgiakakis. Asked to comment on the proceedings the latter said: “not only have they really heard us, but this is what will save and help our hospital,” praising Mrs Bakogianni’s vision for the health campus and her determination to make it a reality.
(Haniotika Nea, 09/10/26)

New hirings at the hospital
At the same time, efforts made to fill staff shortages in various departments have not been entirely without success. In a press release issued on 23 October, the Hospital announced hirings in a range of different specialities, while delivering a strong criticism of the negativity which has permeated local media reports:

Despite the doom-mongering, the Chania Hospital continues to gain strength! Twenty approvals for hirings, 9 permanent appointments and 8 new permanent doctors are on the way.

At a time when announcements proliferate about the alleged imminent “collapse” of the General Hospital of Chania, reality responds with specific decisions, hirings and permanent appointments.

The Director, in a blue polo shirt, stands in his office between two smiling new recruits who are both wearing floral dresses — *The Director of the Chania General Hospital Giorgos Beas is pictured with two newly hired midwives. Photo: Chaniahospital.gr.*

The Ministry of Health has approved the hiring of 20 auxiliary staff as follows:
— 3 midwives
— 2 management/accounting personnel
— 5 cleaning personnel
— 5 paramedics
— 3 medical laboratory staff
— 2 radiographers.
Of these, 16 have already started their duties.

At the same time, in the past few days 9 permanent staff were sworn in and started their duties, namely:
— 6 permanent midwives, four of which were already working as auxiliaries
— 2 permanent nurses with technical education
— 1 permanent nurse with secondary education.

Eight new specialist doctors are awaited to boost Hospital staff.
A particularly important development is the fact that from the announcement in May 2026 of 16 permanent positions for medical staff, eight specialist doctors have already accepted their appointment and are expected to take up their posts. They are:
— 2 cardiologists
— 2 general surgeons
— 1 A&E doctor
— 1 ear, nose and throat specialist
— 1 urologist
— 1 endocrinologist.
This development is of particular significance, as it gives a permanent boost to critical medical specialisms and services, contributing to the stability and further upgrading of the Hospital’s operations.

Altogether, 37 hiring approvals, permanent appointments and acceptances of doctors’ appointments!
Of these, 25 personnel have already assumed their duties, while the same is awaited for the eight permanent doctors and the four other auxiliary staff.

We do not claim that all the problems have been solved. We are very well aware of the critical staffing needs which continue to exist, especially in the Pathology Clinics, in the A&E Department and the nursing staff.
But it is one thing to point out real problems and another to systematically cultivate a destructive image of collapse, which does not acknowledge any positive development.

The improvement of the Chania Hospital is not a promise for the future, it is a process which is unfolding every day, with specific and measurable results. We thank the political leadership of the Ministry of Health for their continuing collaboration and support for efforts to improve our Hospital. We extend a warm welcome to the staff who have taken up their duties and await with special pleasure the new permanent doctors who will be incorporated into our workforce.…
(Chaniahospital,gr, 23/20./26)

Practical advice on olive harvesting

Researchers at the the Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture in Chania have given advice on the best practices in olive harvesting to ensure top quality olive oil. With the main harvesting period getting under way, the scientists emphasise that there are all the conditions for an excellent result, so long as farmers follow certain basic steps. Giorgos Koubouris, head of the olive cultivation laboratory at the Institute of Olive Tree, gave Haniotika Nea some basic advice for producers.

Giorgos Koubouris, of ELGO-Dimitra’s Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, recommends harvesting olives between the end of October and the end of November. Photo: ERT News.

When to start
“From the middle to the end of October is fine for starting with trees which have a medium crop. Since we had a good amount of rain in the spring, the trees were not short of water in the summer. That’s the general rule. The conditions are ideal, the fruit is in good shape,” Mr Koubouris said, drawing attention however to the fact that if a harvest is delayed, and coincides with heat and humidity, there may be an upsurge of the olive fly (dakos).

“We would advise people not to delay. That is to say they can harvest from the end of October to the end of November,” he said, adding that “the general rule is to harvest the heavily-laden trees after the medium- and lightly-laden ones.” The lack of manpower is one reason why many producers are unable to harvest in a very organised way.

Three plastic crates filled with olives are stacked under an olive tree — *Crates are preferred to sacks for transporting the picked olives. Photo: Christos Stamatakos/Facebook.*

Should the olives be left to turn black?
“That is something which we can forget. There is no ‘the later the better’, but nor is there ‘the sooner the better’, with some people going to the other extreme. The producers know that we don’t gather in the rain, as this can cause a lot of damage to both the trees and the fruit”

Crates versus sacks
“It’s important for quality that we move to crates for the provisional storage and transport of the fruit. Plastic sacks are out of the question, we don’t recommend them at all. Even the hessian ones are not ideal. Crates are more trouble, they are more difficult than sacks to transport, and people don’t want to pay for them, but they are the best method,” Mr Koubouris said.

Tsunates
“Most producers of this variety lay nets on the ground and wait for the olives to fall. Those will have already begun the first gathering, and the best advice we can give them is to go and lift the nets more often to avoid the olives decaying.

“Those who prefer to beat the trees [with canes or electric harvesters] should collect the olives which have fallen, then beat them in November-December so as to have good quality, and then there may be some fruit left which will fall later and which can bring them some income.

“Tsunates are still in favour because the cost of harvesting is lower. There is less labour involved, but you end up with an inferior olive oil.”

Labour
The lack of manpower can be made up for if the producers join forces to engage workers for specific periods: firstly for harvesting, then for pruning and then for spraying against the olive fly in summer.

A worker wields a battery electric harvester standing under one of a long row of olive trees, blue nets scattered with fallen olives at his feet. — *Electric harvesters should be used with care to avoid damaging the tree branches, while operators should avoid stepping on the fallen olives as far as possible. Photo: http://www.campagnola.co.uk.*

Basic principles
There are some basic principles which producers ought to follow, which unfortunately they neglect out of habit.

1. NO to pruning at the same time as the harvest. Especially, the use of chainsaws should be avoided. Sheets and nets must be clean.

2. It has been found that exhaust gases or fuel from the machinery can penetrate the fruit, so producers need to be extra careful about this.

3. Electric harvesters should not work at full speed, as this does a lot of damage, and the operator should not move a lot around the tree.

4. They should avoid stepping on the fruit as there is a risk of deterioration and particles of dirt and rubber finding their way into the oil. “The oil can come out at 4 to 5 grams*, but be off-specification because it has an odour of earth or rubber,” Mr Koubouris explains.

5. If sacks are used they should not be stacked one on top of the other, as this compresses the fruit.

6. As regards transport, the emphasis is on a quick transfer to the oil mill so that the fruit can be pressed as soon as possible, avoiding contact with motor oils and other contaminants.

7. The oil mill should ensure correct production methods, with clean water, the appropriate temperature, etc.

Joint processing
This type of production is being used a great deal recently by cooperatives in Eastern Crete, but in the Chania area only by Terra Creta and one other olive mill. “It has many advantages, in terms of quality and for the mill’s operating costs,” Mr Koubouris observed, “but the problem is with attitudes, our own reluctance to work with others. We always think that when the fruit is mixed with someone else’s, as we have the best, it will be spoiled. We tend to say: ‘I have got the best oil and it will be spoiled if it is mixed with someone else’s.’ It is a question of prejudices, rather than something being lost. Joint processing needs cooperation.”

After the harvest
“The first priority is to spray with a copper insecticide to protect the wounds in the trees. Fertilisers should come afterwards: phosphorus and potassium should generally be applied earlier, preferably in December. Nitrogen can be applied later. All that can be derived from the soil analysis which the grower should have done.”

Although the price of olive oil has made it difficult for producers to make a living from their crop, Mr Koubouris reckons that with the implementation of the PGI Crete mark [Protected Geographical Indication], in cooperation with the growers and with the application of a different marketing model with more branding and certification, better prospects can be created for olive oil in Crete.
(Haniotika Nea, 14/10/26)

* Equivalent to 0.4% to 0.5% acidity, i.e. within the range for extra virgin olive oil. While 1 gram is usually calculated as equivalent to 1% of 100 grams of oil, in that case 4 to 5 grams would imply an acidity of 4% to 5% – an improbably high figure when most olive oil produced in Crete is extra virgin, i.e. no more than 0.8% acidity. It therefore seems likely that the speaker is calculating on the basis of a percentage of 1 kg of oil.

Scandinavian dressmakers buy fabrics in Chania

Many Scandinavian tourists visiting Chania in the summer buy fabrics for home dressmaking, a phenomenon which is on the increase according to a recent report in Haniotika Nea.

A storefront with many fabrics on display — *The Stavros Badogiannis fabric store on Mousouron street in Chania.*

Stavros Badogiannis, whose family has run a fabric store on Mousouron street in Chania for the past 85 years, told the paper in August: “There is a great deal of interest, at the moment eight out of ten of our customers are women from Scandinavian countries – Norway, Denmark, Sweden – who do their own sewing.”

The owner stands in his store surrounded by shelves of fabrics — *The family of Stavros Badogiannis has been running their fabric store on Mousouron Street for 85 years.*

But why the great interest in fabrics? “People there learn to sew their own clothes in school. Many schools have sewing rooms where they learn the technique. They come here and buy three or four metres of fabric; they know exactly what they want, for example enough for two pairs of trousers.

“They are of different ages, from 20 to 80, and very many of them are repeat customers. They come to our shop and they are wearing clothes which they sewed themselves from fabrics which they bought last year. And they are very happy and smiling.

“One of them told me that to go to Oslo to buy fabrics they have to take the car and spend two and a half hours on the road. But here it’s connected with their holidays, they can stay 15 days and buy their fabrics at the same time,” Mr Badogiannis said.

Two dressmaker's dummies swathed in fabrics stand in the store — *Scandinavian visitors buy fabrics to sew their own clothes.*

Another important factor is that of price and quality: “Our prices are very good, too, and the quality is excellent! We have lots of cotton, lots of linen – natural materials. Also many American women from the cruise ships come to buy different kinds of fabrics which they use to make soft covers. There, they usually have synthetic fabrics, and they are very pleased to find pure silk and cotton here,” he added.

There is also interest in fabrics from local customers, but the fact that there are few dressmakers in the area often puts them off.
(Haniotika Nea, 21/08/26)

Badogiannis Stavros Fabric Store, 35 Mousouron Street, Chania, 73100.
Photos: Badogiannis/Facebook/Google Maps.

Recommendations for early flu vaccination

Pharmacies in Chania are registering strong interest from citizens with the start of this year’s flu vaccination programme. The head of the Pharmaceutical Association of Chania, Manolis Katsarakis, told Haniotika Nea that the response has been steady from the very first days of availability, and that vaccination can be carried out free at pharmacies without a prescription.

Head of the Pharmaceutical Association of Chania and General Secretary of the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association, Manolis Katsarakis recommends early vaccination against the flu, especially for those with chronic illnesses and other vulnerable groups. Photo: Healthexpo.gr.

Pharmacies in Chania have already received some 30% of the amounts they pre-ordered during the previous vaccination period. Vaccination has been available free from 2nd October both for the insured and the uninsured, with citizens being identified by their national health number (AMKA).

“There has been a lively interest, which personally surprised me,” Mr Katsarakis said, suggesting that the change in the weather and first signs of winter may have acted as a motivating factor. Those coming for vaccination, he said, are mostly people with chronic illnesses who visit the pharmacy every month to pick up their medication. Pharmacists use the opportunity to inform them about the possibility of a flu vaccination, with many opting to have it done on the spot.

Groups which should receive priority
Mr Katsarakis (who is also General Secretary of the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association) underlined the need to protect people with chronic health problems. The groups at increased risk, he said, are those suffering from pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, renal and hepatic insufficiency, haemoglobin disorders and metabolic diseases such as diabetes. He also mentioned obesity and increased BMI as factors which need to be taken into account.

Priority in vaccination needs to be given to those living in closed environments, as well as those caring for or living with the elderly. Special attention needs to be paid to parents and carers of infants under 6 months, who cannot be vaccinated against flu. Vaccination is important for all adults who have close contact with infants, for the latter’s protection.

Conversely, Mr Katsarakis emphasised the need for vaccinating healthcare professionals, both for their own protection and to minimise the risk of transmitting the disease to their patients.

Information about other adult vaccines
The flu vaccination programme is also an opportunity for pharmacists to inform those who are eligible about other available vaccines, Mr Katsarakis said, noting that Greece continues to be behind the norm in adult vaccinations. These can include vaccines for pneumococcus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and herpes zoster.

These three vaccines can be given together with the flu vaccine, where indicated, but they need a doctor’s prescription. Once a prescription has been issued, the vaccines can be administered at the pharmacy, with the pharmacist recording the vaccination on the patent’s digital vaccination card.

Early vaccination recommended
Finally, Mr Katsarakis observed that the official notice specifies the period from the middle of October to the end of November as the indicated period for flu vaccination. However, citizens are recommended not to put off their vaccination as it takes around 14 days after the event for sufficient immunity to develop. As he explained, early vaccination ensures that citizens will have developed protection before the increased circulation of the flu virus, while avoiding the possibility of having to put it off because of some illness.

The head of the Chania Pharmaceutical Association therefore urges citizens, and especially those belonging to groups at increased risk, to get their vaccination done in good time.
(Haniotika Nea, 15/10/26)

US Ambassador to Greece resigns

The US Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, has resigned at the request of the White House, following allegations in the Wall Street Journal about her misconduct both in office and shortly before she became Ambassador. These included asking a wealthy donor to pay off a substantial credit card bill, taking flights on the private jets of Greek businessmen, lobbying for commercial companies in official meetings, and – most damaging from a Greek point of view – boasting at a dinner at which a Greek minister was present that the US could undermine governments if it chose to, including that of Greece.

Ms Guilfoyle has protested her innocence and said she will work to clear her name. Her resignation statement on X included the words: “These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity.” The allegations, if true, demonstrate the pitfalls which accompany the American practice of making political appointees to ambassadorial posts, instead of career diplomats. The call for her resignation perhaps demonstrates that the current US administration at least recognises that there is a different political culture in Europe to that which prevails at home.

Marco Rubio stand back to camera, his arm half round Guilfoyle, while Gerapetritis, on the right, has his hand on the Secretary of State's back. — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with his back to camera, is greeted at Athens International Airport by US Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle and Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis. Tuesday 6th October 2026. Photo: YouTube.

The Greek government has downplayed Ms Guilfoyle’s comments about the US seeking to overthrow governments, despite opposition attempts to make political capital out of the incident (possibly recognising that she was no more than stating the truth about American practices over many decades). No doubt they estimated that there was little to be gained from creating a diplomatic incident at a time when US-Greek relations are held to be at a high point by both sides. Replying to a question in Parliament, the minister involved, the Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, said that “there was never a question of a threat or pressure on our country, nor would such a thing ever be tolerated”.

The full text of Kimberly Guilfoyle’s resignation statement, posted on X, is as follows:
“Serving as the United States Ambassador to Greece has been the honor of a lifetime. I will forever be grateful to President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for entrusting me with the extraordinary privilege of representing the greatest country in the history of the world.

“From my first day as Ambassador, I have worked tirelessly to advance President Trump’s America First agenda, strengthen our strategic alliance with Greece, and deliver meaningful victories for the American people.

“During my tenure, we have helped secure historic agreements to expand American liquefied natural gas exports to Europe, advanced the Vertical Corridor to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy, strengthened our defense and security partnership with a critical NATO ally, and expanded opportunities for American businesses and investment throughout the region.

“I am especially proud of the role our Embassy has played in strengthening American energy dominance, advancing economic cooperation, and ensuring that the United States remains the indispensable leader in Southeast Europe.

“These accomplishments are a testament to President Trump’s bold leadership, Secretary Rubio’s commitment to American diplomacy, and the extraordinary men and women who serve our country every day.

“I also want to address the recent allegations against me. These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity. I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional. I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service.

“My gratitude and respect for President Trump and Secretary Rubio remain unwavering. I am proud of what we accomplished together, and I will always be a loyal supporter of President Trump and his mission to Make America Great Again.

“While my time as Ambassador may be coming to an end, my commitment to President Trump, the America First movement, and the country I love will never end.

“It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve the United States of America. My deepest heartfelt appreciation to the people of Greece for their hospitality, partnership, and welcoming me with open arms. God bless President Trump, God bless our incredible diplomats and service members, and God bless the United States of America.”

A summary of the affair can be found on the AP News website, here: https://apnews.com/article/trump-ambassador-greece-guilfoyle-9da9d2e50e18bccc38946404c1ca756f

The Fridge in Chania up for auction – updated

Creation of the Hyperfund
The first bailout which Greece received following its debt crisis in April 2010 was signed in May of the same year between the Greek government and the European Commission (on behalf of the Eurogroup of EU Finance Ministers), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Officially a Memorandum of Understanding, it became known colloquially (like the subsequent second and third bailouts) as the Memorandum, and the lenders as the Troika – which became terms of opprobrium among the general public and the media, who objected to Greece’s submission to foreign control of its finances.

Among the conditions of the bailout was the creation of a sovereign wealth fund which would take over Greece’s many underused or (in the lenders’ view) poorly managed public assets, with a view to their eventual privatisation. This included assets in property, energy and utilities (including the Public Power Corporation/DEI), transport and infrastructure (including Athens International Airport and the Piraeus Port Authority), food, technology, the Hellenic Post and the National Bank of Greece.

Popularly known as the Ypertameio or Hyperfund, and officially as the Growthfund, the organisation was created as the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) in 2011, and subsequently absorbed by the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations S.A. (HCAP), a holding company founded in 2016 with the Greek government as its sole shareholder, represented by the Minister of Economy and Finance.

The Hellenic Public Properties Company
As a subsidiary of the Growthfund, the Hellenic Public Properties Company (HPPC) was created to exploit the value of a wide portfolio of government-owned properties through leasing, concessions, sales and attracting private investment. Among the properties it controls is a building next the Agora in Chania, popularly known as the Fridge, as it was originally created as an ice store serving the public and businesses in the city.

The Fridge building, faced in cream plaster and with a red tiled roof is seen from Markopoulou Square, with the Agora behind. — *The Fridge building in the north-east corner of the Agora in Chania is being tendered for rental by the Hellenic Public Properties Company.*

Following the renovation of the Agora, which is due to be completed in December of this year, the Fridge, which occupies the corner of the Agora site between the eastern and northern wings, remains the one undeveloped part of the site. Consequently it was decided to offer the Fridge for development and in May of this year the HPPC issued a press release announcing a tender for its lease, with a deadline of 3rd July 2026.

As with some other public assets in Chania (such as the buildings on Kastelli Hill and Daskalogiannis Airport), the prospect of privatisation provoked a flurry of objections, with local calls for the Fridge to be taken over by the Municipality and used for public service, the foremost proposition being for it to house the Historical Archive of Crete. In this case the Municipality of Chania has indeed shown some interest, which has been intensified with failure of the initial tender to attract any offers, with the result that the tender deadline has been extended to 15th October.

Involvement of the Chania Municipal Council
The issue has been the subject of discussion at recent meetings of the Chania Municipal Council, as reported by the Haniotika Nea. On 1st October it reported:

The text of the press release on a blue background. — *The original HPPC press release announcing the tender for the Fridge building in Chania.*

The issue of the Municipality of Chania laying claim to the old Fridge building east of the Municipal Agora has once again been raised in the Municipal Council, with councillors asking to be informed of the progress of its claim and whether there has been an answer to the letter which the Municipality sent to the HPPC.

In reply, the mayor’s associate Mr Damianakis reported that the original tender had expired on 3rd July 2026, without receiving any offers, and as a result had been extended until 15th October. He noted that there had been a previous discussion on 26th June without any decision being taken, while a few days previously the Local Community had taken a unanimous decision in favour of laying claim to the building.

He further said that the Municipality had sent a letter to the President and Managing Director of the HPPC asking for a meeting on the subject without having so far received any reply. He said that communication with the HPPC is extremely difficult, and also referred to the financial terms of the tender, which were considered unapproachable for the Municipality. The building’s target rental was reported to be €12,500 a month, with a deposit of €80,000 and rent revisions in line with the Consumer Price Index, for a 30-year lease.

In the ensuing discussion it was stated that before any approach was made, the type of use of the building needed to be clarified, and a financial-technical study undertaken. The Mayor of Chania Panagiotis Simandirakis stated that they would shortly be pressing for a meeting with the HPPC management, and invited comments from local MPs. He emphasised that a decisive factor would be the political stance of the government on the exploitation of the HPPC’s properties.

The consensus of the meeting was that the most realistic approach for the Municipality was direct negotiation with the HPPC, rather than participation in the existing tender under its stated terms.
(Haniotika Nea, 01/10/26)

The Haniotika Nea subsequently reported that the Mayor had visited the leadership of the HPPC in Athens on 6th October, accompanied by the Council’s legal adviser Eftychis Damianakis and the leader of the Municipal Community of Chania Anna Haritaki, although there was no further report on the outcome of the meeting.

Work preparing the Fridge for rental

The end of the Fridge building is seen covered in scaffolding and protective netting, with a worker on a ladder repairing plaster. — *Work is currently being done on the Fridge building to restore it to its original configuration.*

Currently, work is in progress on the Fridge building to remove more recent accretions, before the HPPC offers it for rental. According to information received by the Haniotika Nea, a contractor is removing materials which had blocked up windows and doors, as well as replacing plaster and other materials which were not in good condition.

Update: Tender deadline extended
On 15th October, the Haniotika Nea reported that the deadline for the tender has been extended to 28th January 2027. Although more than 15 offers have been received, including for touristic development and the creation of a large electrical goods store, the HPPC has extended the tender period to allow for discussions at a political level of the possible assignment of the property to the Municipality of Chania.

The need to promote Cretan products to tourists

Great demand from visitors, high satisfaction with quality and taste, but inadequate presence of Cretan products in tourist accommodation: these were the findings of a doctoral thesis by Giorgos Angelakis presented at the Hellenic Mediterranean University (ELMEPA) in July of this year. The findings were summarised in an article in Haniotika Nea, as follows.

Local products not displayed in the Cretan tourist market
Cretan products represent a strong advantage for the area, but they remain to a large extent unrepresented in the “shop window” of organised tourism. At a time when foreign tourists are buying olive oil, cheese, wine, honey, herbs and tsikoudia, and recognise their quality and authenticity, a notable proportion of them say that they do not find local Cretan products in the hotels and other accommodation where they are staying. According to the data presented in Mr Angelakis’s thesis, the problem was recorded in researches in both 2021 and 2023.

Thirty-seven per cent of visitors in 2021 stated that local agricultural products were not available in their accommodation, a figure which had reduced to 31% in 2023. This reduction indicates an improving trend; however, the fact that almost one in three tourists continued not to find local local products in the hotels where they are staying remains a matter of concern.

In the 2023 research, 77% of visitors said that they ate in restaurants and tavernas, while only 15% ate in hotel restaurants. A further 6% tried the products in speciality outlets for Cretan foodstuffs and only 1.6% at farms and local markets.

Four college professors stand in a row in front of a screen bearing the title of the thesis. — Presentation of the doctoral thesis by Giorgos Angelakis entitled “Sustainable Tourism Development by promoting local quality agricultural products: The Case of Western Crete” at the School of Management and Economics Sciences of the Hellenic Mediterranean University, 1st July 2026. Giorgos Angelakis is standing second from the right with his supervising professor Christos Lemonakis.

Lost added value
In the 2023 survey, almost eight out of ten tourists said that gastronomy was important or very important for their overall satisfaction with their journey, while two out of three said that gastronomy was a major motive for travel. At the same time almost 60% stated that Cretan gastronomy affected to a great or very great extent their decision to visit Crete. Even more significant is the fact that in 2023, 53% of the visitors’ budgets during their holiday in Crete was spent on food, a larger amount than was found in the research of 2021.

In other words, Crete is not faced with visitors who are indifferent. Its visitors are interested in taste, they spend money on food, they seek authenticity and appear to be especially satisfied with the quality of local products. What is missing is the organised and systematic presence of these products throughout the tourist chain.

What the tourists buy
The data in the thesis show that visitors do not restrict themselves to sampling local products, but buy them in significant quantities. In 2023, roughly six out of ten tourists bought olive oil during their holiday in Crete, 55% bought local cheeses, almost half of them bought wine, while large amounts were also recorded for honey, vegetables, tsikoudia, fresh orange juice, herbs, spices and rusks.

The demand, therefore, exists. The problem is that these products are not always to be found in places where visitors spend a large part of their touristic experience: in accommodation, at the buffet, on the menu, at breakfast, in the hotel restaurant.

A hotel buffet carries dishes of olives, fruit and flasks of olive oil, and two chef figurines bearing messages of welcome. — While many Cretan hotels offer cheaper imported products in their restaurants, the Kalyves Beach Hotel advertises a “thematic buffet and specially prepared dishes with tastes from around Crete every evening”.

Imported goods a threat
The thesis suggests that hotels and tourist businesses should offer and promote high-quality products from Crete, rather than replacing them with products from other regions or countries, which are often chosen because of their lower cost. The local organisations which took part in the research recognise that Cretan products are superior in terms of taste, quality, freshness, authenticity, safety and traceability as against imported products.

At the same time however, severe threats were identified, such as the imports of cheap and low-quality agricultural products, “Hellenisation” [the labelling of imported goods as being of Greek origin], distortions of competition and deterioration of the destination’s image.

The barriers
The research identified the weaknesses, the opportunities and the threats facing the agricultural sector in relation to tourism. It showed that the basic barriers to the promotion of local agricultural products to tourism are the lack of an organised marketing and distribution network, the lack of marketing experts, the absence of a coordinating body, higher prices in relation to imported products, but also a lack of cooperation and trust between local businesses.

The proposals
The thesis concludes by presenting specific moves needed to break the barrier between the primary sector and the tourist economy:

– The first prerequisite is the creation of direct synergies between producers, hoteliers and hospitality businesses. Producers must be able to consistently provide tourist businesses with high quality local products, while accommodation providers must reduce their dependence on cheaper imported products.

– Secondly, Cretan products need to be displayed in a prominent position at buffets, to be clearly listed on menus, and to be presented with details of their identity, origin and characteristics. It’s not enough for visitors to eat something Cretan, they must be aware of it.

– The third prerequisite is certification and a common identity. The thesis suggests that local products could be promoted through PDO [Protected Designation of Origin] and PGI [Protected Geographical Indication] marks and under the umbrella of “Crete – Land of Values”, so that the visitor recognises their quality, provenance and authenticity.

It also proposes the creation of a digital platform, via a website and social networks, where tourists would be able to find certified agricultural businesses, producers, distribution points and organised gastronomic activities. Special importance is given to visits to farms, oil mills, wineries, cheese makers and businesses of gastronomic interest. These visits, it emphasises, must be organised in a professional manner and be accompanied by expert guides, so that the product is connected with the history, the mythology, traditions and identity of the area.
(Haniotika Nea, 06/07/26)

Crete – Land of Values
The thesis mentions the slogan, “Crete – Land of Values”. This is in fact a brand created by the Region of Crete through the Agronutritional Cooperation of Crete, based in Heraklion, a non-profit organisation created in 2012, which is generally working in the directions suggested in Mr Angelakis’s thesis. According to its website (agrocrete.com): “It aims at supporting the agro-nutritional sector and the products of Crete, focusing on the strategic development of the primary and secondary sector and linking them directly to the tourism and catering establishments.”

To this end it has created and consolidated the brand “Crete – land of values” alongside the sub-brands of “Cretan cuisine”, “Cretan grocery”, “Cretan brunch”, “Cretan taste” and “Open wineries”. It also aims to raise awareness of the PDO and PGI marks as well as that of Organic Products, both in Crete and in Europe.

An interactive map on the Agrocrete website enables visitors to locate Cretan businesses participating in the scheme: in the Kolymbari area it is represented by local olive oil producer Terra Creta ABEE.

Support pledged for Gavdos at Smart Islands conference

The participation of the Municipality of Platanias in the 3rd International Smart Islands conference last month has been hailed as a success by its organisers. The conference, which was held on the island of Gavdos on 22nd and 23rd September, focussed on the needs, the challenges and the development opportunities of the country’s small and remote islands, and the choice of Gavdos had been proposed by the Mayor of Platanias Giannis Malandrakis at the previous conference held on Kastellorizon in September 2025.

In a letter to the Mayor, the International Hellenic Association (IHA) stated that the organisation of the conference on Gavdos had been a great success, with important contributions from the Municipality of Gavdos, the participating municipalities, Cretan institutions and other bodies and the academic community.

In reply, the Mayor of Platanias said: “I am particularly happy that our proposal to hold the Conference on Gavdos met with such a successful response. This was demonstrated by the major participation, the fruitful dialogue which developed, but chiefly by the proposals which were put forward for Gavdos. The issue now is for these proposals to have consequences and to be put into practice.”

The mayors sit at a table under a canvas marquee, the Mayor of Platanias holding a microphone. — The Mayor of Platanias Giannis Malandrakis speaks at the 3rd International Smart Islands Conference held on Gavdos on 22nd and 23rd September 2026. With him are, from the left, the Mayors of Sitia Giorgos Zervakis, of Apokoronas Haralambos Koukianakis, of Kea Eirini Velissaropoulou and of Sfakia Ioannis Zervos, and the Deputy Mayor for Tourism of Kalymnos Kalliope Koutouzi. Photo: Facebook.

In this direction, the Municipality of Platanias is now prioritising its collaboration with the Municipality of Gavdos, especially on issues of provisions and other operational needs where inter-municipal cooperation can offer vital and practicable solutions for the far-flung island.

The initiative acquires particular importance in the light of the IHA’s proposal whereby the bigger municipalities can support smaller ones and remote islands through specific actions and collaborations. The IHA invites the Municipality of Platanias to be among the first municipalities of Crete to give practical support for one of the identified needs of Gavdos.

The issue of practical support for Gavdos is expected to be raised again at the Annual Conference of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), to be held in Kalamata from 5th to 7th November 2026, the IHA having announced its intention of asking the KEDE’s Management Board to include the needs of Gavdos in the conference agenda and to call on the country’s municipalities to help. It has also asked the Mayor of Platanias to introduce it as a main theme in the sessions of the conference.

The same philosophy – that the Greek Regions cannot be treated in terms of their distance from the main urban centres – is at the centre of a proposal which the Mayor of Platanias was due to present at the Olympia Forum 2026, held from 29th September to 1st October at Ancient Olympia, with the title: “Cash everywhere and Services everywhere”. The Municipality’s proposal establishes the Municipal Unit as the basic planning unit, offering at least one access point in each Municipal Unit, so that the citizen does not have to travel to the seat of the Regional Unit for basic transactions or services. The basic criteria should be not only population, but territorial area, distance and practical accessibility.

The two mayors stand in front of a signboard advertising the Smart Islands Conference, Ms Stefanaki on the right. — *The Mayor of Gavdos Lilian Stefanaki receives a commemorative gift from the Mayor of Sitia Giorgos Zervakis. Photo: Facebook.*

The Mayor of Platanias gives special thanks to Lilian Stefanaki, the Mayor of Gavdos, and her associates for their warm hospitality, and to the International Hellenic Association, its Board and its Organising and Scientific Committees for their ongoing efforts and unwavering interest in the remote Regions of the country. Special mention is also due to the Deputy Mayor for Tourism of Kalymnos Kalliope Koutouzi for her ongoing contribution and coordination of the Smart Islands conferences.

Also participating in the conference were the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Stefanos Gkikas, the General Secretary for the Aegean and Island Policy Fotis Mangos and the President of the Deposits and Loans Fund Stamatina Papagona, who in their statements referred to the importance and necessity of supporting Greece’s small islands, as well as the special needs and challenges which they face.

There were also a significant number of local government representatives from Crete and other Greek islands, among them the Mayors of Kea Eirini Velissaropoulou, of Sitia Giorgos Zervakis, of Apokoronas Haralambos Koukianakis, and of Sfakia Ioannis Zervos, representative of the Municipality of Mylopotamos and President of the Water Board Minas Roubakis, and the General Secretary of the Municipality of Platanias Trandafylia Nikolaou.

As the Mayor of Platanias Giannis Malandrakis stressed: “… The success of a conference is not judged solely by what was said in the auditorium, but chiefly by what follows. Gavdos brought together municipalities, organisations and people who are truly interested in the remote regions of Greece. Now is the time time for us to pass from proposals to collaborations and from theory to practice.”
(Municipal press release, Platanias, 01/10/26)

More Greeks are drinking their coffee at home

If called upon to identify the three institutions which have contributed most to the stability of Greek society through its many hardships and crises, one would probably name the family, the Orthodox Church and the kafeneion. The most characteristically Greek of the three, the kafeneion was actually introduced to the country during the centuries of Ottoman rule. Popular histories relate that the first coffee shop opened in Constantinople in 1475, while by the 18th century the kafeneion was a well established part of Greek social life.

The method of making coffee in a briki over a flame or hot sand was for generations known as Turkish coffee, but following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 a wave of nationalism ensured that the drink, in Greece, was henceforth known only as Greek coffee.

The visit to the kafeneion, traditionally a habit of older males, was and still is an opportunity to get out of the house, meet friends and have one’s daily shot of caffeine, while discussing the state of the world, the weather, the crops, and whatever else is topical. Conversations at the kafeneion in Afrata village (or in summer at the beach bar) still revolve mainly around the livestock, grapes and olives which occupy the lives of many of its inhabitants, while discussions of food and the methods of preparing it also figure largely.

A briki is shown on a copper tray bearing a white china cup filled with coffee and with a napkin and small biscuit in the saucer. — Greek coffee is traditionally prepared in a copper briki, and served with a small biscuit or a portion of spoon sweet and a glass of water, to dull the impact of caffeine on an empty stomach. When served to a visitor in the home, it is customary (in Crete at least) for the recipient to utter the toast “s’ygeia” (a contraction of “stin ygeia sas” – “to your health”). However this must be done while first taking a sip of water, since a toast made while drinking the (black) coffee is considered bad luck. Photo: Poupadou.com

In towns and cities, cafés and modern coffee bars cater to a more mixed and younger clientele. The ubiquitous Greek coffee has also been partly replaced by alternatives derived from the global coffee culture, adapted to Greek tastes and climate. The frappé is the essential take-away coffee, made quickly by frothing up instant coffee with water and ice, and adding milk or sugar to taste. Served in a paper cup with a domed plastic lid with a straw, it can be sipped slowly while working or driving, and is frequently disposed of by decidedly non-ecological methods. Also, espresso machines have become an essential piece of equipment, providing Italian-style coffee in all its variations, including the chilled espressos and cappuccinos which are popular in the summer heat.

Coffee remains the most popular drink in Greece, and TV coffee advertisements plug into its association with key moments of daily life: a pick-me-up before leaving for work, a reflective pause at the end of the day, the emotional satisfactions of a visit to ageing parents and so on. While going out for a coffee remains an essential feature of Greek life, these ads reflect a growing trend towards preparing it at home.

Survey reveals fewer visits to the kafeneion
The continuing pressure on prices generally, caused by a combination of factors including climatic change and global instability, is slowly bringing about a change in Greek consumer habits, with coffee nevertheless proving a particularly resilient category in the market.

Data on the European retail market from the NielsenIQ analysis group, which were presented at the 1st Panhellenic Coffee Symposium held in Athens on 1st October, depict a consumer who is more careful in their expenditure, but at the same time determined to preserve small daily satisfactions, such as coffee.

The TV ads of Dandali – one of the major Greek coffee companies – celebrate the pleasures of a leisurely cup of coffee drunk in off-duty moments at home or at work. Photo: EyeQ/YouTube.

While almost two out of three consumers state that they intend to reduce their outgoings on food, and 46% say that they will be visiting cafés and cafeterias less often, at the same time coffee remains one of the most popular choices in the out-of-home environment. In NielsenIQ’s research on Greece, coffee constitutes 57.9% of the drinks consumed in catering establishments, close to beer. Forty-three per cent of respondents declare that they visit coffee establishments once or twice a week, while almost 9 out of 10 visit a café. At these places, coffee – either hot or cold – constitutes by far the main choice, at 74%.

Increase in retail spending
Increases in purchases of packaged coffee confirm a trend towards home consumption. Almost six out of ten buyers state that they bought packaged coffee or tea on their last visit to the supermarket. At the same time, the category acts as the motivation for a shop visit in 22.6% of cases.

In terms of volume, coffee is moving faster than the whole FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) market. The NielsenIQ survey records an increase of 10.1% for coffee in the retail trade over last year, against 5.5% for all the FMCG categories which it tracks. In terms of value, coffee is in third place among the 171 FMCG categories examined by Nielsen IQ, behind cheese and milk. The total value of sales in 2025 reached €501.4 million, an increase of 13.7% over 2024. The average annual increase in the category for the period 2018-2025 was 6.5%.

This development is due to a mixture of increased demand, especially during the pandemic and after, followed by increased costs of raw materials and the Special Consumer Tax (EFK). At the same time, domestic machines for making hot drinks sold 403,000 units in 2025, an increase of 17.5% over 2023, continuing an upward trend which reached the threshold of 300,000 units in 2020.

As the figures demonstrate, the Covid lockdowns forced people to make their own coffee at home, forming a habit which persisted once the pandemic had ended, and has now become an advantage at a time of steadily rising prices.
(www.protothema.gr/APE-MPE)

A solution in sight for the Valsamiotis dam

The approvals for the Environmental Impact Study for the repair works to the Valsamiotis dam at Vatolakkos are now in the final stages, according to a report in Haniotika Nea. In addition to repairing the leaks which have prevented the dam from entering use since its completion in 2014, the works will include the construction of a pipeline which will carry water to the pumping station at Patelari and from there to the plain of Chania and Platanias.

The Crete Development Organisation has told the paper that the study, which was completed in May 2026, is at present awaiting approvals from the Forestry Service for the sections which concern it and from the Culture Ministry for archaeological sites. It is estimated that the approvals will have been secured by the end of 2026 and the process of securing funding can then proceed.

The original construction of the dam
Constructed between 2005 and 2014 with EU money, the dam near the village of Vatolakkos, 2.5 km south west of Alikianos, was designed to have a capacity of 6 million cu m. However, problems arose during the construction and the original budget of €18.5 million was exceeded, with final expenditure ballooning to a total of €44.6 million. Despite the extra expenditure, it was discovered after its inauguration in 2014 that the dam had substantial leaks, which resulted amongst other things in water rising in the cellars of houses in Vatolakkos. As a consequence the dam was never filled to more than a fraction of its designed capacity.

A Google Maps satellite image of the area around Vatolakkos with the reservoir and dam in the middle. — Siting of the Valsamiotis dam near Vatolakkos: the dam appears as a white line in the middle of the picture. Despite large sums of EU money spent on its construction, the dam leaks and has never operated at full capacity. Image: Google Maps.

Since then the difficulty of finding a solution to the leaks, as well as the major cost of repairs, compounded by bureaucratic delays, has led to a 10-year gap in finalising a project which would be of major benefit to agricultural producers in the whole northern coastal area west of Chania.

In August Haniotika Nea reported that the Prime Minister had taken a personal interest in the project and had assured the Crete Development Organisation that the repairs would be funded by the government – the possibility of further EU funding being available for the failed project being considered unlikely.

Stopping the leaks
The planned solution to the leaks is the waterproofing of the bottom and abutments of the reservoir, an area of 350 stremmata, by laying a strong high-density polythene (HDPE) membrane at least 2 mm thick. For the creation of the required slope for installing the membrane, earth-moving works will be needed which include excavations on the upper parts of the abutments and embankments on the lower portions of these.

For sealing the bottom of the reservoir basin, a barrier of interlocking piles is to be created at a depth of 30 m. The cost of repairing the leaks has been budgeted at €8.34 million.

A view of the dam from the side with the nearly empty reservoir on the left, and with olive trees and blue sky in the background. — *The cost of sealing the dam to stop the leaks is estimated at €8.34 million. Photo: Facebook.*

The new pipeline
When the dam was completed and inaugurated in 2014 there was no initial provision for a pipeline to carry the stored water to agricultural holdings. This was to be effected by a bypass to the feed pipe from Meskla: i.e. the pipe carrying water from Meskla would be diverted to the dam during the winter, so that the water stored in the dam could be fed back towards the crops during the summer.

This never worked in practice, since as a result of the leaks the dam was never put into operation. Now a new pipeline is planned which will be connected with the 2A3 reservoir of the Patelari aqueduct.

The work involved includes traversing a watercourse at one point on the route, the construction of sumps for the siting of valves and network monitoring devices, and the restoration of the existing road networks through which it passes.

One section of the pipeline passes through the village of Vatolakkos, while the boundaries of the village of Alikianos are about 400 metres from its course. From there the route heads north and crosses a section of the village of Koufos before arriving at the 2A3 reservoir at Patelari, which is west of the village boundary.

This part of the project is budgeted at €6 million. Thus the total cost of the Valsamiotis dam over 25 years will have been the €44.6 million originally spent, plus €14.34 million for the the repairs and the new pipeline, making a total of €58.94 million.
(Haniotika Nea, 28/09/26, 18/08/26)

The Kolymbari Courier

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