“In politics, there are no ambitions in the absence of the citizens. The people are the ones who decide if you are truly capable, if you suffer, care and honor your homeland, if you are truly in politics for them or for yourself. Plans and chessboards without the people are empty shirts. Undoubtedly, the positive work of these years of governance is both great and important in many areas,” pointed out the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, in an interview he gave to the newspaper “Th” and to journalist Christina Haleplidou.
“Nevertheless, in the second four years of a government and especially in its middle, it is logical that lower percentages appear. The world has problems, mainly in the cost of living overall. There are ongoing cases with a negative sign that are being investigated,” added Mr. Kikilias, while referring to the opposition, he stressed that “There is no leading personality in the center-left to unite social forces – not the parties – under one flag. And there is no clear, realistic, reliable and positive narrative. The entire opposition strategy is based on anti-government rhetoric.”
Referring to the need to strengthen and upgrade maritime education, the Minister announced that “In the fall, we are bringing for passage a crucial bill on maritime education. Our goal is to simplify procedures, reduce bureaucracy and create a more flexible and effective framework, which will give more incentives to universities – public and private – to invest in maritime education.”
At the same time, regarding the role and contribution of shipping to the country’s economy, he stressed that Greek shipowners own one of the largest fleets of ships in the world, with 5,300 ships. “More than 1,700 shipping companies are based in Greece, with 50,000 well-paid employees. More than 150,000 employees work in shipyards, catering, marine insurance, agencies, etc. The shipping foreign exchange that enters our country is in the order of 18-19 billion euros each year, a large percentage of which is invested not only in ships but also in hotels, real estate, technology and energy businesses, sports teams, culture, etc.,” he emphasized.
Mr. Kikilias made special mention of the development of Northern Greece and in particular the port of Thessaloniki, pointing out that it is the biggest and most powerful advantage that the city and, by extension, Central Macedonia have. “The Ministry of Shipping and the government have launched a series of major projects, inside and outside the port of Thessaloniki, that will upgrade port services and the logistics sector in the wider region. This is the first time that such a coherent, large-scale, port-based transport network has been implemented, with which our Macedonia will acquire the role it deserves at the epicenter of transport flows, not only in the Balkans but also throughout Eastern Europe.” And he continued: “The long-awaited mandatory investment of 130 million euros for the expansion of the 6th Pier has finally moved forward. The new master plan was issued in a Presidential Decree, the project was approved by the Ministry of Shipping and the preliminary works of the construction crews have already begun. We immediately expect the multiple benefits to the local economy, which will arise both in the construction stage and in the operation stage of the new pier.”
Asked about the port of Alexandroupolis, the Minister noted that the port is now characterized on the global transport map, as an important reference center in the energy and army logistics sectors. As he said, “With these performances, the port of Alexandroupolis managed to be recently included in the Trans-European Transport Network, which means, among other things, that it can receive direct project funding from the EU CEF program. For our part, as the Ministry of Shipping, with €23.6 million from the Recovery Fund, we are improving the port basin and the port channel and creating a direct freight road connection with the new Peripheral Road of the city of Alexandroupolis. We will demand from Europe that the infrastructure of the new European corridors that are being planned today “pass” through the critical region of Macedonia-Thrace. Above all, the new European corridor “Baltic-Black Sea-Aegean” must be implemented as soon as possible, for the benefit of the port of Alexandroupolis and beyond. The port of Alexandroupolis can and must develop as an international energy hub and as a key freight gateway for Eastern Europe.”
The Minister’s full interview follows:
1. Two years before the elections, if they are held on time, ND remains in first place, although its poll ratings have significantly decreased. Is this picture due more to the successes and failures of the government or to the lack of opposition?
Undoubtedly, the positive work of these years is both great and important in many areas. However, in the second four years of a government and especially in its middle in time, it is logical to see lower percentages. The world has problems, mainly in the cost of living overall. There are ongoing cases with a negative sign that are being investigated, however. The weakness of the opposition is due to two reasons: There is no leading personality on the center-left to unite the social forces – not the parties – under one flag. And there is no clear, realistic, reliable and positive narrative. The entire opposition strategy is based on anti-government rhetoric.
2. The government recognizes the role that the port of Thessaloniki can play, but there are specific projects that must be carried out with government responsibility – also based on the existing contract – for the 6th pier to operate. Will the government meet its obligations?
In my opinion, the port of Thessaloniki is the biggest and most powerful advantage that the city and, by extension, Central Macedonia have. The Ministry of Shipping and the government have launched a series of major projects, inside and outside the port of Thessaloniki, that will upgrade port services and the logistics sector in the wider region. It is the first time that such a coherent, large-scale, port-based transport network has been implemented, with which our Macedonia will acquire the role it deserves at the epicenter of transport flows, not only in the Balkans but also throughout Eastern Europe. The port has already multiplied its cargo activity in the last 4-5 years. The long-awaited mandatory investment of 130 million euros for the expansion of the 6th Pier has finally moved forward. The new master plan was issued in a Presidential Decree, the project was approved by the Ministry of Shipping and the preliminary works of the construction crews have already begun. We immediately expect the multiple benefits to the local economy, which will arise both in the construction and operational stages of the new pier.
3. After the recent incident in Thassos with the transportation of a disabled person in the ferry boat’s vehicle area, you gave an order to impose sanctions and intensify controls. Why does something that does not honor us as a society always have to happen for us to take our measures?
You are right. We should not wait for an incident that hurts us, like the one in Thassos, to react. And I say this as a human being, not just as a minister. I asked for the imposition of the foreseen sanctions and the
intensification of controls, but we also went a step further. Last week, I met with the president of ESAmeA, Ioannis Vardakastanis, and the president of SEEN, Dionysis Theodoratos, and we put on the table all the issues related to accessibility in coastal shipping. We are therefore proceeding with specific timetables in the submission of a new Presidential Decree which, for the first time, provides for mandatory rules for passenger ships – with ramps, elevators, cabins, WCs, places for disabled people and functional accessibility at all levels.
4. I imagine that wherever you’ve been this summer, you’ve been complained about ferry tickets. A family of four starts with 1,000 euros minus their vacation if they want to go to an island. Is this also a problem in general accuracy?**
Coastal shipping, as you know, is an area that operates under free market conditions. There is no possibility of state intervention in prices. However, when there is political will, there are tools. We reduced port fees by 50% and the coastal shipping companies not only did not proceed with the 12%-15% increases that they had already announced, but there were also substantial reductions. From 2017 to 2024, ticket prices had increased by 38%.
This year, after seven summers of consecutive increases, we managed to change the picture.
5. Although immigration is the subject of another ministry, the role of the Coast Guard is important. Based on the national and European framework, in addition to rescue, the Corps can also attempt to prevent the entry of immigrants? Are there any changes at the operational planning level in this direction?
Regarding the operational capability to prevent flows, in the northeastern Aegean there is now a very large organization and cooperation with the other side and in the humanitarian part with rescues, but also in guarding the sea borders. The new challenge is in the Libyan Sea. There, at 100 or 200 nautical miles, operations similar to those carried out in the northeastern Aegean cannot be carried out. On the contrary, Frontex and the Greek coast guard have only one option: to rescue. Unfortunately, modern smugglers have turned their activity towards that. However, we have taken bold and tough decisions. Now, anyone who enters illegally from North Africa to Gavdos, Crete, Karpathos, etc., must
knows that he will be confined in a closed PRO.KE.KA. center or prison, until he decides to return to his country. The women and men of the Coast Guard operate under difficult conditions, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Together with the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, we announced the allocation of 450 million euros to strengthen the Coast Guard. The program includes: two 80-meter offshore vessels with helipads, six coastal patrol boats, ten 60-knot high-speed vessels, mobile units, drones and modern surveillance systems, etc.
6. As Minister of Shipping, you are the link between the Greek government and Greek shipowners, who currently control approximately 21% of the world fleet. Do you believe that Greek shipowners are participating to the extent they can in the country’s effort for a better tomorrow?
Greek shipowners own one of the largest fleets of ships in the world, with 5,300 ships. Over 1,700 shipping companies are based in Greece, with 50,000 well-paid employees. Over 150,000 employees work in shipyards, catering, marine insurance, agencies, etc. The shipping foreign exchange that comes to our country is in the order of 18-19 billion euros each year, a large percentage of which is invested not only in ships but also in hotels, real estate, technology, energy businesses, sports teams, culture, etc. For this very reason, in the fall we are bringing for passage a crucial bill on maritime education. Our goal is to simplify procedures, reduce bureaucracy and create a more flexible and efficient framework, which will give more incentives to universities – both public and private – to invest in maritime education.
V. Kikilias: “Plans and chessboards without the people are empty shirts” | YNANP
