Alexandros Exarchou, chairman and chief executive of AKTOR Group, warned of the risk of a fresh major energy crisis in Europe, with serious consequences for inflation, and called on Europe to respond immediately.
Speaking at the «Green Deal Greece 2026» conference, the group’s chief also referred to organised opposition from US business interests, which threaten to undermine efforts to develop the Vertical Corridor.
«There are enemies abroad, primarily in the United States», he said, explaining that the dispute centres on control of the long-term supply contracts for the large volumes of natural gas the European market will need.
According to the head of AKTOR, US business interests would prefer natural gas to be transported via alternative routes, bypassing Greece. He explained that such a scenario would allow non-EU countries, Turkey being a notable example, to blend US gas with Russian gas and secure lower prices.
Against this backdrop, Alexandros Exarchou stressed the need for an immediate European response, proposing the issuance of a eurobond. As he noted, decisions cannot be put off until February or March, as by then the economic impact will already have intensified, making it more costly to address.
«The risk is immediate», he said, warning that a fresh energy crisis would put considerable pressure on major European economies such as France and Germany.
He also expressed confidence in the resilience of the Greek economy, saying it was in its strongest position in 50 years. He warned, however, that even the strongest foundations would not be enough to shield the country from a Europe-wide crisis.