“We have agreed with the Ministry of Environment and the procedures of the Waste Energy and Water Regulatory Authority (WAWR) will be simplified in order to declare an island in a state of emergency due to water shortages”
The Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Stefanos Ghikas participated in the proceedings of the Annual Regular Conference of KEDE (Alexandroupolis, November 6 – 8, 2025), where he delivered a keynote speech on the thematic section: “Insularity – Mountainous Regions and Tourism Development” .
In his speech, Mr. Gikas mentioned that the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy, through the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Insular Policy (GSIP), is working towards the recognition of the “Insularity Clause” at the European level.
As the Deputy Minister stated:
“Our government attaches particular importance to the further strengthening of Local Government, regional development and the more careful and substantial management of Insular Greece. The GNGI is working methodically for the recognition of the “Insularity Clause”, strengthening our international presence and building stable partnerships with institutional bodies and officials of the European Commission.”
Furthermore, he underlined that:
“It is very important that the European Union opens the dialogue on the new European Strategy for the Islands and it is a happy coincidence that from January 1, 2026, Cyprus will assume the Presidency of the European Union.”
The Deputy Minister also stressed the “strategic importance of strengthening island infrastructure and improving maritime connectivity, aiming at the sustainable development and territorial cohesion of the islands.”
He commented that the barren lines were strengthened from 90 million euros in 2019 to 168 million euros in 2025, now serving 77 lines , while he recalled that the process for the new coastal ferry connection Alexandroupolis – Sigri Lesvos – Mesta Chios – Piraeus , worth approximately 13 million euros, which was a commitment of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and which will begin in early 2026, is being completed.
Referring to the Port of Alexandroupolis, he noted:
“The Port of Alexandroupolis is one of the country’s Ports of International Interest. It belongs to the Trans-European Transport Network and has the Liquefied Natural Gas Import Terminal, FSRU, a structure of great importance for the energy security not only of Greece, but also of Europe, which transforms Alexandroupolis into a key European energy hub. With the new agreements signed with the USA, it is being upgraded even further.”
Mr. Gikas also referred to the Ministry’s planning for the upgrade of Port Infrastructure on 30 of our islands and the Modernization Program of the Greek Coastal Shipping Fleet , recently announced by the Minister of Shipping, Vassilis Kikilias .
In the field of water resources, Mr. Gikas stated that the needs of the islands are constantly being recorded and dozens of water supply projects are being implemented, under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Energy and in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Energy .
The Deputy Minister also stated that: “listening to the concerns of the island Municipalities, we recently agreed with the Minister of the Environment, Mr. Papastavrou, to simplify the procedures provided for by the Regulatory Authority for Waste Energy and Water (RAEW) in order to declare an island in a state of emergency due to water shortages. The Ministry of the Environment will soon make announcements.”
Mr. Gkikas also referred to the collaborations of the GGAINP with a multitude of institutional bodies such as KEPE, EKKE, EETAA, TEE, etc.
Regarding the Metaphorical Equivalent, he clarified that:
“We are modernizing the Transport Equivalent (TE) measure, while by the end of the year, passengers will be paid for the 2024 TE, the 2024 fuel TE and finally the 2022 TE of businesses. Approximately 26 million euros will be paid. At the same time – and after the completion of the audits – declarations for the 2023 TE of businesses will be opened.”
At the conclusion of his speech, the Deputy Minister informed that ” the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy continues to support the cultural and architectural heritage of the islands with new actions, such as studies for the restoration of stone-built lighthouses, funding for systematic excavations, creation of a Depository of Preserved Buildings and Settlements of the Aegean, etc.”
On the sidelines of his visit to Alexandroupolis, the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy had separate meetings with His Eminence Metropolitan of Alexandroupolis, Mr. Anthimos , the Member of Parliament of Evros and Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, Christos Dermentzopoulos , the Member of Parliament of Evros, Anastasios Dimoshakis , the Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Christodoulos Topsidis , the Mayor of Alexandroupolis, Ioannis Zambakis , the Deputy Governor of Evros, Vangelis Poulilios , the Commander of the 12th Mechanized Infantry Division, Major General Konstantinos Gakis , the CEO of the Alexandroupolis Port Authority (OLA SA), Konstantinos Hatzikonstantinou and of course with the Regional Commander of the 2nd PEDILS and the Port Authority at the Central Port Authority of Alexandroupolis.
Finally, he visited and was given a tour of the Greek pioneer digital applications company “PRISMA Electronics SA”.
