Unauthorised construction causes a new quarrel between Tina and George

HHomes that were built in areas ouside urban planning, in other words unauthorised structures, are the new bone of contention between Enivorment Minister Tina Birbilis and Finance Minister George Papakostantinou.

Mr.Papakostantinou is hoping for a new measure that will reel in all owners of unauthorised structures to pay fines and legalise their home status.

Mr.Birbili, however, does not want this measure to be christened "environmental friendly", since it is a measure clearly aimed at taxing and profiting for the State.

Talking to the radio station Vima FM, Mrs Birbili said that legalizing unauthorised construction is against the constitution, underlining that the State cannot deal in the same way with someone who is law-abiding and someone who is acting in an illegal manner.

Mr.Papakostantinou was planning to include in the legislation all properties built before 2004 and possibly have the ones constructed after 2004 receive lenient treatment. The most recent disagreement amongst the two Ministers related to the fines and rights not granted on all environmental hazardous waste. The Minister of Finance wanted the revenue from all fines to go to the public funds register. But Mrs Birbili thought it appropriate for it to benefit the Environment. And she won that battle. Let's see what will happen this time.