Stefanos Gkikas presented in the Parliament plans for the Insular Program to boost island sustainability, transport, and the economy.
- A 12-year green ferry plan could change access to remote islands (fare discounts talked up too).
- €440M set aside to upgrade 40 ports.
- Businesses on small islands might catch a breather with transport cost subsidies.
- Larger EU funding ambitions circle insular efforts, but promises meet cautious optimism.
Stefanos Gkikas, Greece’s Deputy Minister for Shipping and Island Policy, addressed the Special Permanent Subcommittee on Islands of the Parliament, asking for policies to safeguard the sustainability of Greece’s islands. He reminded everyone of Law 4832/2021, which formalized a marine strategy meant to make life less miserable for islanders. The framework, he claimed, sped up initiatives in island-related economy and policies.
A “holistic approach” (his words) is supposedly guiding all actions, involving local governments and communities.
Big Plans for Seamless Travel
A major talking point was the state of Greece’s “dead-end” ferry routes. Gkikas assured everyone these routes will transform in the next few years. Part of this heralded change is a €1 billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) aimed at upgrading sea transport systems.
Of course, this includes “green” ferries. That’s probably one reason behind the projected costs, which are, no surprise, half-funded by taxpayers. Contracts for these eco-friendly ferries will span 12 years, and building them will heavily rely on local shipbuilders and suppliers.
Let’s not forget the pop quiz-worthy budget highlight: €440 million (from EU Recovery Funds) will supposedly revamp 40 Greek ports. The upgrades should attract more tourist wallets while supporting small islander businesses.
Support for Struggling Islands
Another topic floating through the room was the much-publicized Transport Equivalent measure for businesses. Essentially, the aim is to make it less horrifyingly expensive to ship goods to and from these islands. According to Gkikas, they’re tweaking this initiative across four pillars:
- Targeting sectors and regions hit hardest by high costs.
- Launching an islander business program to keep operations afloat, aided by Greece’s Development Bank.
- Setting up a Price Observatory for raw materials and services (imagine a watchdog for island-living markup).
- Delivering a dedicated framework to support small-island enterprises through regular funding.
His promises seemed lofty enough to raise as many doubts as hopes.
As for passengers themselves, the minister promised that travelers using ferries would get immediate discounts because, apparently, good will still exists somewhere in governance.
An EU Wish List That Sounds… Ambitious
Lastly, Gkikas expressed a “no-compromise” position on securing an exclusive Insular Program from the EU. Such funding would align with Europe’s cohesion policy, officially recognizing the islands’ unique challenges.
The ultimate goal, as hyped by Gkikas, is to turn talks into reality in the next planning period.
More details in Greek here.
