Eh, this varies by European country. In Ireland, for a long time, there was an element of "seek forgiveness": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Plaza_(Dubli

Eh, this varies by European country. In Ireland, for a long time, there was an element of "seek forgiveness": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Plaza_(Dublin)#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Plaza_(Dublin)#History (built ten meters higher than they had planning for, got away with it) These days, the authorities are somewhat less forgiving: https://www.archiwik.org/index.php/%27Archer%27s_Garage%27,_Dublin#Illegal_demolition https://www.archiwik.org/index.php/%27Archer%27s_Garage%27,_... (illegally demolished building, _forced to reinstate it_), https://www.thejournal.ie/diggers-begin-demolition-of-co-meath-home-built-without-planning-permission-6990510-Mar2026/ https://www.thejournal.ie/diggers-begin-demolition-of-co-mea... (illegally built building, demolished). (Ireland has become generally significantly less corrupt in the interim.)