Greece satisfied with transport, tourism portfolio but EP hearing could be challenging
Centre-right Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his satisfaction with Greece’s transport and tourism portfolio allocation in the next Commission. However, the candidate for the role, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, faces a challenging task ahead of his European Parliament’s hearing.
Mitsotakis described the “Sustainable Transport and Tourism” portfolio as an upgrade for the country, which will now have an important role in “connectivity and transport, especially towards the wider Balkans.”
“A region that still requires the strengthening of its infrastructure, from which our country will benefit, gaining a seamless connection with Central Europe, the Baltic and the Black Sea”, Mitsotakis added.
Greece’s two economic ‘assets’
Euractiv reported on 22 August that Athens had requested the transport portfolio.
The chances of getting it were high given that Mitsotakis, together with Poland’s Donald Tusk, nominated Ursula von der Leyen to be the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) candidate for a second mandate as European Commission president.
Getting the transport portfolio aligns with Greece’s economic strengths. The shipping industry is the Mediterranean country’s asset, as the Greek-owned fleet represents 59% of the total EU-controlled fleet. Moreover, more than 75% of the EU’s external trade is being conducted by shipping.
Tourism is also a domain in Athens that could offer its expertise.
As a major sector of Greece’s economy, tourism contributes over 10% to the country’s annual GDP, with visitor numbers rising nearly every year. Government reports estimate that in 2024, some 35 million tourists visited the country, representing a 7% increase compared to 2023 record levels.
The governor of the Greek region of Central Macedonia and commissioner-designate Tzitzikostas has experience in handling EU funds and tourism projects in his region.
Tough hearings ahead
However, the political aspect of the transport portfolio may prove to be challenging for Tzitzikostas at the next hearing in the European Parliament.
Particularly, in her mission letter, von der Leyen asks Tzitzikostas to devise a plan for an “ambitious” European high-speed rail network. Railways, though, are not an area of expertise for Greeks.
Euractiv has been informed that several EU lawmakers, mainly from the left and centre-left, are expected to raise the issue of the 2023 train crash that killed 57 people – mostly youngsters – in Tempi. The incident has had a heavy political impact domestically.
Read more: EU transport portfolio for Greece? Candidate commissioner to face ‘hot potatoes’
The EU-funded “717 contract” has been in the spotlight since then. The contract, signed in 2014, aimed to reconstruct and upgrade the signalling system and remote control on Greek trains, and if it had been implemented, the crash might have been avoided.
The issue has attracted the attention of the EU Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi, who launched an investigation into the matter before the accident.
Kövesi said in March that the Greek authorities were posing obstacles in “finding the truth and applying justice” and sent a letter to the European Commission stating that Greece’s constitutional provisions grant immunity to ministers should change.
The Greek government has pushed back, saying Kövesi exceeded the limit of her competence and insisted that politicians have no penal responsibilities. Meanwhile, the trial over the accident has proceeded slowly.
Though Tzitzikostas had no role in decision-making regarding this matter, his ties to Greece’s New Democracy government are likely to lead to intense scrutiny during his hearing.
Additionally, the head of the EU Parliament’s Transport Committee, Eliza Vozemberg, who will oversee Tzitzikostas’ hearing, also comes from the New Democracy party. Although EU rules do not prohibit such a scenario, Vozemberg may be asked to step down for reasons of political ethics.
Read more with Euractiv
