Cases / Natural-capital land · Cyprus · 1995–2025
Limni Bay / Polis-Gialia golf and villa resort, Cyprus: infringement procedure closed (2019), land sold (2025)
Nature's voice · report
More than 3.3 million m2 of me at Limni Bay, in my Polis-Gialia Natura 2000 site, was split and sold in February 2025; the prices paid are not on record. Cyprus Mail
Not on record
- No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Accounts of the harm differ
Whether the project, as mitigated, could proceed
- International bodies European Commission: Closed the infringement procedure on 24 January 2019, stating that mitigation had improved the project. Friends of the Earth
- Communities and civil society Friends of the Earth: Said the Commission ignored the 500 m no-build zone advised by scientists. Friends of the Earth
- Company or project Shacolas Group: A public relations director said in May 2015 that the company "plans to go ahead with the project". Cyprus Mail
- Government and regulators Environment Commissioner Ioanna Panayiotou: Said she had opposed the project from the start. Cyprus Mail
- Standard-setters and registries Bern Convention Standing Committee: Recommendation No. 191 (2016) called for an appropriate assessment of the golf project and a zero-lighting zone of at least 200 m; the Akamas file remains open. Council of Europe, Bern Convention
A golf, hotel and beachfront-property resort was planned at Limni Bay on the Akamas peninsula, in the Natura 2000 site Polis-Gialia, which has loggerhead nesting beaches. The European Commission closed its infringement procedure on 24 January 2019; the project was cancelled in 2021 and the land was split and sold in February 2025.
EUR 1.5 billionPlanned investment in the resort (Cyprus Mail, 2015)
Figure as reported by Cyprus Mail in 2015 for the planned project. The 2025 sale prices of the land are not on record.
Figure as reported by Cyprus Mail in 2015 for the planned project. The 2025 sale prices of the land are not on record.
Status As of October 2026: the resort project was cancelled in 2021; the land was split and sold in February 2025; the European Commission closed its infringement procedure on 24 January 2019; the Bern Convention's Akamas file (1995/6) remains open.
What?
A golf, hotel and beachfront-property resort planned at Limni Bay on the Akamas peninsula was the subject of a European Commission infringement procedure (closed on 24 January 2019) and of the Bern Convention's Akamas file; the project was cancelled in 2021 and the land was sold in two parts in 2025. Council of Europe, Bern Convention
Where?
Limni Bay, Polis Chrysochous, on the Akamas peninsula, Cyprus, within the Natura 2000 site Polis-Gialia. Council of Europe, Bern Convention
When?
Bern complaint 1995; company formed 2006; guidelines 2013; reasoned opinion April 2015; Recommendation No. 191 in 2016; debt-to-asset swap 2018; infringement closed 24 January 2019; project cancelled 2021; land sold February 2025. Cyprus Mail
Who?
Gained
- Bank of Cyprus — Party to a debt-to-asset swap of about EUR 93 million (2018) Cyprus Mail
- Cyprus-based group (inland buyer) — Bought the inland part of the land in February 2025; plans a solar farm Cyprus Mail
- Etyk provident fund — Bought the coastal part of the land in February 2025 Cyprus Mail
Lost
None on recordHarmed
- Limni Bay / Polis-Gialia nesting area — Reported by Friends of the Earth to hold a quarter of Cyprus's loggerhead nests; no measured harm to nesting is on record in the sources reviewed Friends of the Earth
Why?
The company planned two golf courses, a hotel and about 800 beachfront properties; the Commission's reasoned opinion was reported as concerning permits without a proper impact assessment, and Friends of the Earth and the Environment Commissioner opposed the scale or location of the project. Cyprus Mail
How?
The Environment Department set a 475 m building-free distance, which 2013 guidelines reduced to 280 m after the company's challenge; the Commission closed its procedure in 2019 after mitigation; Bern Convention recommendations (1997, 2016) remain open. Council of Europe, Bern Convention
6 of 6 questions answered from the record
What happened
The record, in order.
The project site is at Limni Bay, Polis Chrysochous, on the Akamas peninsula in Cyprus, within the Natura 2000 site Polis-Gialia. In 2006 the Shacolas Group set up Cyprus Limni Resorts and Golf Courses PLC to develop two 18-hole golf courses, a hotel and about 800 beachfront properties. The site covers more than 3.3 million m2. MEDASSET had complained to the Bern Convention about the Akamas peninsula in 1995 (file 1995/6), and the Standing Committee adopted Recommendation No. 63 in 1997.
The Environment Department first set a building-free distance of 475 m from the beach. After the company challenged this, guidelines issued in 2013 set 280 m, with one-storey houses nearest the beach. Different sources reviewed give the distance as 475 m, 280 m and 220 m. In April 2015 the European Commission sent Cyprus a reasoned opinion, reported as concerning permits that lacked a proper impact assessment. In May 2015 a public relations director of the Shacolas Group said the company "plans to go ahead with the project", and Environment Commissioner Ioanna Panayiotou said she had opposed the project from the start (Cyprus Mail, 2015). The same reporting gave a planned investment of EUR 1.5 billion.
In 2016 the Bern Convention Standing Committee adopted Recommendation No. 191, which addressed the Akamas peninsula as a national park or biosphere reserve, an appropriate assessment of the golf project, and a zero-lighting zone of at least 200 m. On 24 January 2019 the Commission closed the infringement procedure, stating that mitigation had improved the project. Friends of the Earth said in January 2019 that the Commission had ignored a 500 m no-build zone advised by scientists. No ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union on the project is on record.
A debt-to-asset swap of about EUR 93 million involving the Bank of Cyprus was made in 2018 (Cyprus Mail, 14 February 2025). The project was cancelled in 2021. In February 2025 the area was split and sold: the inland part to a Cyprus-based group planning a solar farm, and the coastal part to the provident fund of the Cyprus Union of Bank Employees (Etyk). The prices paid in 2025 are not on record. The Bern Convention's Akamas file remains open.
- 1995MEDASSET lodges a Bern Convention complaint on the Akamas peninsula (file 1995/6)
- 1997Bern Convention Standing Committee adopts Recommendation No. 63 on Akamas
- 2015European Commission sends a reasoned opinion (April); a Shacolas Group public relations director says the company plans to go ahead (May)
- 2016Bern Convention Standing Committee adopts Recommendation No. 191 (Akamas; appropriate assessment of the golf project; zero-lighting zone of at least 200 m)
- 2018Debt-to-asset swap of about EUR 93 million involving the Bank of Cyprus
- 2019Commission closes the infringement procedure (24 January), stating that mitigation had improved the project; Friends of the Earth criticises the closure
- 2025Area split and sold in February: inland part to a Cyprus-based group planning a solar farm, coastal part to the Etyk provident fund
What was said
Claims, in the words of those who made them.
“plans to go ahead with the project”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Whether the project, as mitigated, could proceed
International bodies
European Commission
Closed the infringement procedure on 24 January 2019, stating that mitigation had improved the project.
Friends of the EarthCommunities and civil society
Friends of the Earth
Said the Commission ignored the 500 m no-build zone advised by scientists.
Friends of the EarthCompany or project
Shacolas Group
A public relations director said in May 2015 that the company "plans to go ahead with the project".
Cyprus MailGovernment and regulators
Environment Commissioner Ioanna Panayiotou
Said she had opposed the project from the start.
Cyprus MailStandard-setters and registries
Bern Convention Standing Committee
Recommendation No. 191 (2016) called for an appropriate assessment of the golf project and a zero-lighting zone of at least 200 m; the Akamas file remains open.
Council of Europe, Bern ConventionHow it looked
What was shown, beside what was recorded.
Shown
- A resort of two 18-hole golf courses, a hotel and about 800 beachfront properties, with a planned investment of EUR 1.5 billion.Cyprus Limni Resorts and Golf Courses PLC / Shacolas Group, as reported by Cyprus Mail (2015) · Cyprus Mail
- Mitigation had improved the project.European Commission, on closing the infringement procedure (24 January 2019) · Friends of the Earth
Recorded
- European Commission reasoned opinion, April 2015; infringement procedure closed on 24 January 2019. The 45-page reasoned opinion is not public.
- Bern Convention file 1995/6 (Akamas peninsula): Recommendation No. 63 (1997) and No. 191 (2016); the file is open.
- Debt-to-asset swap of about EUR 93 million involving the Bank of Cyprus (2018).
- February 2025: land split and sold, inland to a Cyprus-based group planning a solar farm and coastal to the Etyk provident fund.
Who gained
Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.
Reached nature or the ground
Not published
No figure published.
Gained elsewhere
Not totalled
Planned investment in the resort (Cyprus Mail, 2015)€1.5bn
Debt-to-asset swap involving the Bank of Cyprus (2018)≈ €93m
Currency: EUR · Window: Mixed - see each line. Figures cover different periods and are not compared as a ratio. * Estimate built from cited figures.
Responses on record
- Shacolas Group (May 2015): A public relations director said the company "plans to go ahead with the project". · Cyprus Mail
- Government of Cyprus (Environment Commissioner Ioanna Panayiotou) (2015): Said she had opposed the project from the start. · Cyprus Mail
- European Commission (24 January 2019): Closed the infringement procedure on 24 January 2019, stating that mitigation had improved the project. · Friends of the Earth
- Friends of the Earth (January 2019): Said the Commission had ignored the 500 m no-build zone advised by scientists. · Friends of the Earth
In court and with insurers
Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2019DismissedEuropean Commission infringement procedure on the Limni Bay / Polis-Gialia permitsEuropean Commission (infringement procedure) · Regulatory · European Commission → Republic of Cyprus
The Commission sent a reasoned opinion in April 2015, reported as concerning permits that lacked a proper impact assessment. On 24 January 2019 it closed the procedure, stating that mitigation had improved the project. The procedure ended without a ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union. Friends of the Earth
- 1995–OngoingBern Convention file 1995/6, Cyprus: Akamas peninsulaBern Convention Standing Committee (Council of Europe) · International court · MEDASSET (complainant) → Republic of Cyprus
The file produced Recommendation No. 63 (1997) and No. 191 (2016), which address Akamas as a national park or biosphere reserve, an appropriate assessment of the golf project, and a zero-lighting zone of at least 200 m. The file is open. Council of Europe, Bern Convention
Insurers
No insurer decision on record.
What nature saw
Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
Share of Cyprus loggerhead nests at Limni
A quarter
Friends of the Earth, an advocacy figure; the source gives no nest count
What we don't know
Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
- Disputed Whether the project, as mitigated, could proceed
Record
- Disputed Disputed: the building-free distance from the beach is given as 475 m, 280 m and 220 m in different sources.
- None on record None on record: the text of the Commission's 45-page reasoned opinion, which is not public.
- None on record None on record: the prices paid in the February 2025 sales, and the plans of the coastal buyer.
- Not measured Not stated: the sources reviewed give no nest counts for Limni before or after the project, and no measurement of harm to nesting.
- Insufficient Unconfirmed: about 1,000 loggerhead nests a year for Cyprus and 550 a year for Polis-Gialia, attributed to an undated Council of Europe presentation.
- None on record No source on record for: a statement in company public relations material (2015) that EUR 40 million had been spent restoring the former mine area.
Did the harm stop?
The project was cancelled in 2021 and the land was sold in two parts in February 2025. The inland buyer plans a solar farm; the coastal buyer's plans are not on record. The sources reviewed do not say whether nesting at Limni changed during the project's life.
Who paid?
No compensation or restoration payment for harm to nature is on record. A debt-to-asset swap of about EUR 93 million involving the Bank of Cyprus was made in 2018.
Sources
Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations✓ Communities and civil society— Researchers✓ International bodies
Press and investigations
- Cyprus Mail report on the Commission's action over the Limni Bay project (May 2015)Cyprus Mail · 2015-05-10
Communities and civil society
- Friends of the Earth page on the Commission closing the Limni Bay infringement procedure (January 2019)Friends of the Earth · 2019-01
International bodies
- Bern Convention case file 1995/6, Cyprus: Akamas peninsulaCouncil of Europe, Bern Convention ·
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