Europe is now placing far greater emphasis than in the past on the three-pronged approach of infrastructure, transportation, and tourism—an area of activity of particular interest to our country, given that shipping, tourism, and Greece’s geographical position as a transit hub are perhaps its most important strategic advantages.
The budget for infrastructure and transportation is doubling, from 26 to 53 billion euros, while there is also a fund totaling 100 billion euros for so-called military mobility, that is, Military Mobility, which concerns “dual-use” projects such as bridges, tunnels, ports, and roads.
At the same time, for the first time, Europe will adopt a unified strategy for tourism, aimed at addressing the sector’s major challenges and strengthening the Old Continent’s position on the global tourism map.
A key point is that at the helm of this effort, as Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, is a Greek politician, Apostolos Tzitzikostas. This may also be a sign of recognition of the important role Greek shipping plays at the pan-European level, as well as of our country’s pivotal geographical—and geopolitical—position.
Last week, Mr. Tzitzikostas hosted a group of Greek journalists at his office in Brussels to take stock of his first year and a half in this position. In this context, he presented the strategic pillars of his policy and his upcoming priorities, with an emphasis on issues of particular relevance to Greek interests.
Realism in sustainable transport and alternative fuels
Europe is making what he described as a necessary shift toward realism—which had been lacking in recent years—regarding the “greening” of every sector of transportation.
In road transport and the automotive industry, plans to ban internal combustion engines by 2035 are being abandoned, while the new policy of “technological neutrality” prevails, as the threat of the European automotive industry’s extinction due to Chinese competition has become apparent.
At the same time, an investment plan for alternative fuels is being prepared, in order to reduce investment risk, increase their availability, and lower prices, which currently make the shift toward them nearly prohibitive in critical sectors such as aviation.
Similarly, in shipping, the new policy promoted by the Commissioner—now that there is evidence that the sector accounts for less than 2% of global CO2 emissions— aims to rationalize previously set targets and promote common positions with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The goal is to ensure that European shipping does not become uncompetitive compared to China and the U.S. This is a particularly critical issue for Greek shipping, which, after all, constitutes the backbone of Europe’s shipping capacity.
Railways, ports, and shipyards
Strategic importance is also placed on the high-speed rail transport sector, with the goal of fully connecting all member states, linking major hubs and not just capital cities.
The goal is to have the high-speed network fully operational by 2040, through the construction of new infrastructure and the upgrading of existing infrastructure. Mr. Tzitzikostas cited as an example the reduction in travel time between Athens and Sofia from 16 to 6 hours, noting that a European “passenger package” is also being promoted.
This “package” concerns the upgrading of services provided, so that “with a single click,” the now-identified passenger can book tickets for cross-border trains, even from different companies, as is currently the case with airline tickets.
At the same time, a “charter of rights” similar to the one in effect for airlines is also planned, while airlines are already under pressure to inform their customers in writing, using a special form, about rights—e.g., compensation—that may exist but remain unknown to most.
Significant investments are also expected in port infrastructure, in conjunction with military mobility. This is an issue that naturally concerns Greece greatly, as 90% of European Union trade passes through ports and shipping.
The shipbuilding sector has also come into focus, with a primary emphasis on specialized vessel categories, such as cruise ships and “smart ships.” Europe, the commissioner noted, has likely missed the boat when it comes to mass shipbuilding compared to Asia. However, it does not intend to lose its leading position in specialized sectors, which, among other things, include defense.
What does European tourism policy entail?
Before the formation of the current Commission, tourism, despite its importance to the Old Continent, fell under the much broader portfolio of the internal market. Apostolos Tzitzikostas is the first commissioner to include tourism—now elevated to a higher status—in the title of his portfolio, and he is also the one tasked with presenting the EU’s first unified policy for the sector.
As he said, the plan is almost ready, but its announcement was delayed due to developments in the Persian Gulf, with an expectation that it will be released in September or October.
It addresses serious challenges, such as unbalanced development—which has become known as “overtourism”— the shortage of approximately 1 million workers to fill positions in the tourism sector, and the need for skills upgrading.
The commissioner also mentioned the preparation of a European Academy of Tourism, which will operate on a pilot basis online for the first two years but will subsequently function as a regular educational institution.
According to some sources, it will likely be based in Greece.
Daylight Saving Time, Drones, and the Aegean-Black Sea Connection
Of particular importance to the country, as the Chameleon column wrote on Friday, is the project already underway for the modern road and rail connection between Greece and Bulgaria - Romania, which effectively connects the Aegean Sea with the Black Sea, bypassing the Bosporus Strait.
The project has been agreed upon through an intergovernmental MoU and is already progressing at the technical level, with European and national funding. The goal is for it to be operational by 2040, though earlier operation is not ruled out, while €277 million has already been allocated from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility for the Alexandroupoli–Pythio railway section, approximately 70 kilometers long.
Commissioner Tzitzikostas’s goal is also to promote the abolition of daylight saving time, a measure with which, as he stated, 85% of citizens agree, according to a relevant survey. He described himself as “cautiously optimistic,” noting that he is encountering resistance mainly in the north, which he hopes will be overcome through a study currently being prepared.
What is certain, however, is that new regulations will be introduced regarding the hot-button issue of drones, which is now a multifaceted concern for the EU. The goal is to ensure that there are no longer “unidentified takeoffs” on European soil. All drones, regardless of size and capabilities, will be assigned a sort of “registration number,” while a special permit will be required for the more powerful ones.
E2D