The Ministry of National Defense has reclaimed two massive properties at the former Karaiskakis military camp in western Athens, securing over 114,000 square meters of land to expand a flagship housing program for service members.
The plots were returned to the National Defense Fund following a joint decision by National Economy and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis and Deputy Defense Minister Thanasis Davakis. The move effectively cancels concessions granted to local authorities 34 and 19 years ago, citing a failure to fulfill the original terms of the transfer.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has prioritized the recovery of dormant or misallocated assets to address the chronic housing shortage facing the armed forces, a key pillar of his "Agenda 2030" modernization strategy.
"Reclaiming misallocated properties is key to rationalizing our real estate assets," the ministry stated.
The two sites, located in the suburb of Haidari, cover a combined area of 114,363 square meters (approximately 1.23 million square feet). Mr. Dendias has previously described the housing initiative as critical for supporting the "military family," particularly as soaring rents and frequent transfers place financial strain on personnel.
Mr. Pierrakakis and Mr. Davakis signed the revocation orders after reviews confirmed the land remained undeveloped by the municipality. The reclaimed plots will now be evaluated for immediate inclusion in the next phase of construction, aiming to boost recruitment and retention by providing modern, rent-free accommodation for officers and their families.