The above were emphasized by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, from Rome, in the context of his participation in the international conference “Shaping the Future of Shipping Summit 2026 – Forging Partnerships for Resilience” and the contacts he made with the political leadership of Italy and top representatives of the international maritime community.
During his address at the Ministerial Panel of the International Chamber of Shipping Summit, in which the Deputy Minister of Shipping of Cyprus, Marina Hadjimanoli, the Minister for Sustainable Mobility of Malta, Chris Bonett, and the Administrator of the Panama Canal participated, Mr. Kikilias highlighted the decisive role of European shipping and European ports for the competitiveness of Europe, noting that 90% of global trade is conducted by sea and that this directly affects societies, the average European family, and the way business activities are conducted in daily life.
The minister stressed that Europe must utilize its shipping and ports as a strategic advantage, especially in a period during which, as was also pointed out in the Draghi report, the European economy is called upon to bridge the competitiveness gap against the United States and China. As he characteristically stated, “for the next quarter of a century, the major agreements concerning shipyards, energy, shipping, marinas, and the cruise industry – which will offer growth and many employment opportunities – will be realized through the sea.”
He placed particular emphasis on the importance of unity and common steps among the countries of the European South, stressing that the Greek and Italian maritime communities constitute strong pillars of the European economy, with a direct connection to society and the real economy.
Referring to the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the transition to new fuels, Mr. Kikilias stressed the need for realistic and applicable policies that will not undermine European shipping nor transfer activity to non-European Mediterranean ports. “We want to have ports where global shipping will find hubs and will not push our ships towards the southern part of the Mediterranean, towards non-European ports,” he underscored.
In this context, the minister warned that excessive burdens on the sector will inevitably be passed on to the real economy. “We do not seek to commit political or economic suicide,” he noted, pointing out that the EU bureaucracy must understand the consequences that unrealistic policies can have on competitiveness, energy, transport, and product prices.
On the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Kikilias met with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Italian government and Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Matteo Salvini. During the meeting, in the presence also of the Ambassador of Greece to Italy, Mrs. Eleni Sourani, the common challenges faced by Greek and Italian shipping were discussed, which together represent a particularly significant percentage of European shipping.
The two sides agreed to continue their common steps for the protection of the competitiveness of European ports and for a fair and realistic energy transition of the maritime industry, which will not burden the average European family.
At the same time, they emphasized that with the application of common sense, solutions can be promoted that fully exploit the comparative advantage of European shipping, contributing to the flourishing of maritime professions and the prosperity of societies.
At the same time, the need was raised for further strengthening of cooperation between Greece and Italy, maintaining the resilience of the supply chain and continuing to promote common positions on issues concerning the future of European shipping and the ports of the Mediterranean.
Mr. Kikilias also had a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Shipping of Cyprus, Marina Hadjimanoli, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Italy, Edoardo Rixi, and the Minister for Sustainable Mobility of Malta, Chris Bonett. Mr. Kikilias pointed out that the four countries are leaders in European shipping and share a unique common understanding due to their position in the Mediterranean, noting that this specific cooperation has now acquired stable characteristics and yields substantial results in a critical sector for their economies and societies.
In the context of his contacts in Rome, the Minister also met with the Chairman of the JJ Denholm Limited Group and next Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), John Denholm, in the presence of the ICS Secretary General, Thomas Kazakos, as well as with the President of the International Chamber of Shipping and CEO of the Grimaldi Group, Emanuele Grimaldi.
During the discussions, the common commitment to the pivotal role of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Chamber of Shipping in shaping policies for the future of global shipping was confirmed, as well as the need to ensure freedom of navigation and the protection of seafarers in a period of increased geopolitical challenges.
Focusing on Greek shipping, Mr. Kikilias reiterated that the Greek-owned fleet is the strongest fleet internationally, while linking shipping to the prospect of development and social advancement for the next generation. “These are jobs with good pay. This is about the future of the next generation of Europeans. This is an opportunity for us to grow again,” he stressed, emphasizing that countries like Greece, Italy and Malta historically built their strength through maritime trade.
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