Best Data Center & Digital Infrastructure Lawyers in Agia Paraskevi

About Data Center & Digital Infrastructure Law in Agia Paraskevi, Greece

Agia Paraskevi is a municipality in the Attica region near Athens that is home to commercial, public and private technology projects. Data center and digital infrastructure projects in Agia Paraskevi operate within a mix of Greek national law, EU law and local municipal planning rules. Legal issues typically span data protection and privacy, telecommunications regulation, building and land-use planning, environmental and fire-safety approvals, electricity and grid connection matters, cybersecurity obligations, commercial contracting and tax and incentive regimes. Because Greece applies EU law directly in areas such as data protection and network security, operators must manage both EU-level obligations and Greek-specific licensing, permitting and administrative processes.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

Data center and digital infrastructure projects are legally complex and touch many regulatory areas. You may need a lawyer if you are:

- Developing or purchasing land or buildings for a data center and need help with zoning, building permits, lease negotiation, easements and local approvals.

- Contracting for colocation, hosting, managed services, fiber or power - to draft and negotiate service level agreements, master services agreements, supply contracts and warranty and liability provisions.

- Connecting to the electricity grid, arranging long-term power purchase agreements or navigating energy regulation and grid operator requirements.

- Deploying telecommunications infrastructure or providing network services - to obtain or review any required licences, authorisations or registrations and to comply with the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission rules.

- Handling personal data - to ensure GDPR compliance, prepare privacy policies, data processing agreements, conduct data protection impact assessments and manage cross-border data transfer mechanisms.

- Meeting cybersecurity and resilience obligations under NIS, NIS2 or other applicable laws - to develop incident response, notification procedures and contractual security requirements for suppliers.

- Seeking tax or investment incentives, or dealing with state aid questions - to structure investments to take advantage of available incentives and to ensure compliance with public support rules.

- Facing regulatory investigations, enforcement action or disputes - to represent you before Greek regulators, administrative bodies or courts.

Local Laws Overview

Key legal themes for data center and digital infrastructure projects in Agia Paraskevi include the following.

- Data protection and privacy - The EU General Data Protection Regulation applies in full in Greece. Organizations processing personal data must implement appropriate technical and organizational measures, maintain records of processing activities, and follow breach-notification rules. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority supervises compliance and issues guidance and decisions that are relevant to data processing in data centers.

- Cybersecurity and network resilience - EU-level network and information security rules, including the original NIS Directive and the expanded NIS2 framework, impose requirements on operators of essential services and certain digital infrastructure providers. These rules require risk management, incident reporting and security governance. Greece has designated competent authorities and will apply national measures consistent with EU obligations.

- Telecommunications and electronic communications - Providers of electronic communications services and operators of physical network infrastructure must follow the Greek telecommunications regime, which includes licensing, registration or notification obligations and sector-specific rules enforced by the national regulator.

- Planning, construction and local permits - Building permits and planning consents are handled at municipal and regional levels. Projects must comply with local zoning plans, building codes and urban planning restrictions. Agia Paraskevi municipality and the Attica regional authority have planning controls that affect where heavy infrastructure can be built, noise and traffic considerations, and permitted uses.

- Environmental and fire-safety approvals - Data center development may trigger environmental impact rules, wastewater and emissions permitting, and specific fire-safety approvals. Cooling systems, generator emissions and waste handling should be assessed against national environmental law and applicable EU directives.

- Energy and grid connection - Power supply and high-voltage connections involve the electricity market regulator and the transmission system operator. Long-term supply contracts, grid connection studies and potential reinforcement costs are key commercial and legal elements.

- Commercial and contract law - Procurement, outsourcing, liability allocation, insurance, force-majority clauses and dispute-resolution mechanisms are essential for commercial relationships across construction, operations and service delivery.

- Tax and incentives - Greece offers investment incentives under national incentive schemes. Tax structuring, VAT treatment and incentives for strategic investments should be reviewed with advisors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special licence to operate a data center in Agia Paraskevi?

There is no single nationwide "data center licence." However, operation typically requires compliance with multiple sectoral rules - building permits, environmental approvals, electricity and grid connection authorisations, and possibly telecommunications registrations depending on services offered. Local planning rules and municipal permits are also required.

What privacy obligations apply to data stored in a data center?

If personal data is processed, the GDPR applies. That includes lawful purpose and legal basis for processing, data security measures, record-keeping, data subject rights, breach notification and, when relevant, Data Protection Impact Assessments. Data controllers and processors must have clear contractual arrangements defining responsibilities.

How does EU law like GDPR and NIS affect Greek data center operators?

EU rules apply directly. GDPR sets data protection obligations and penalties. NIS and NIS2 require cybersecurity risk management and incident reporting for operators of essential services and certain digital infrastructure providers. Greece implements and enforces these frameworks through national authorities, so operators must comply with both EU and Greek implementing measures.

Who enforces data protection and telecommunications rules in Greece?

The Hellenic Data Protection Authority enforces data protection. Telecommunications and electronic communications are supervised by the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission. Energy and grid matters are overseen by the Regulatory Authority for Energy and the transmission system operator handles technical connection issues.

What planning and building approvals are required locally in Agia Paraskevi?

You must obtain municipal zoning clearance and a building permit from the competent municipal or regional planning authority. Local plans may restrict location, height, noise and traffic. Large projects may also require environmental assessments or ministerial approvals depending on scale and impact.

Are environmental impact assessments commonly required for data centers?

They can be, especially for larger projects or those with significant cooling, noise, emissions or land-use impacts. National law and EU environmental assessment directives set thresholds. Even where a full environmental impact assessment is not required, environmental permitting for emissions, wastewater and waste management is often necessary.

How should I manage power supply risk and grid connection?

Plan early. Grid connection studies, agreements with the transmission or distribution operator and possible reinforcement works can be time-consuming and costly. Consider alternative power arrangements such as dual feeds, on-site generation and backup solutions. Legal advice helps allocate costs and manage contractual risk with energy counterparties.

What contractual protections should I seek in colocation or hosting agreements?

Key elements include clear service levels and uptime commitments, warranties, liability caps, limitation of consequential damages, data protection and security obligations, incident notification and remediation procedures, confidentiality, exit and transition assistance, and audit rights.

Do Greek laws restrict cross-border transfers of data stored in data centers?

Cross-border transfers of personal data outside the European Economic Area require a lawful transfer mechanism under the GDPR - for example, adequacy decisions, standard contractual clauses, or other authorized safeguards. Recent case law places additional requirements on transfer risk assessments, so legal counsel should review transfer arrangements.

What happens if there is a cybersecurity incident or data breach?

Under GDPR and security legislation, certain breaches must be reported promptly to the competent authority and, in some cases, to affected data subjects. NIS/NIS2 requires incident notification to national competent authorities for qualifying operators. You should have an incident response plan, notification procedures and legal representation ready for handling regulatory and contractual obligations.

Additional Resources

Relevant bodies and resources to consult when seeking legal advice include national and local authorities, regulators and standards organisations. Typical points of contact are the Hellenic Data Protection Authority for privacy matters, the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission for telecoms, the Regulatory Authority for Energy and the national transmission system operator for electricity and grid issues. Local municipal planning and building departments in Agia Paraskevi and the Attica regional authority handle zoning and construction permits. For cybersecurity guidance, European agencies and national competent authorities publish standards and recommendations. Industry standards like ISO 27001 and international best practices for data center design and resilience are also useful reference points. Professional advisors with experience in Greek administrative and commercial law, data protection, energy and environmental matters can guide projects from permitting through operations.

Next Steps

If you need legal assistance for a data center or digital infrastructure matter in Agia Paraskevi, consider the following steps.

- Gather documentation - land titles or lease drafts, technical plans, contracts, environmental studies, supplier agreements, and any correspondence with regulators.

- Identify the legal issues - zoning and permits, data protection, telecommunications, energy connection, environmental approvals, or commercial contracting.

- Select a lawyer or firm with relevant multidisciplinary expertise - look for experience in technology infrastructure, administrative and planning law, energy regulation, data protection and cybersecurity.

- Request a scoping meeting - ask the advisor to outline required permits, likely timelines, material risks, budgeting and a recommended project plan.

- Agree a fee structure and engagement terms - confirm confidentiality, deliverables and dispute-resolution clauses in the engagement letter.

- Start compliance work early - initiate permit applications, DPIAs, security audits and contractual negotiations as soon as possible to avoid delays and unexpected costs.

- Maintain regulatory and operational records - document decisions, approvals and compliance measures to support inspections and demonstrate due diligence.

Legal counsel can help translate regulatory requirements into practical steps, allocate risk in contracts, and represent you before regulators and courts. Acting early and getting specialized advice reduces project risk and helps ensure operational compliance.