Stylianidis stated that Greek shipping, which corresponds to 61% of the European fleet, can play a decisive role in strengthening European competitiveness.
The global recognition of the Posidon International Shipping Exhibition, which will open its gats on Monday, June 3, confirms Greece’s leading presence on the global maritime map, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Christos Stylianidis emphasized in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) released on Sunday.
The minister underlined that Greece has played an important role in the proposal that is already being discussed in Brussels and other European capitals for the creation of a special portfolio in the European Commission for European competitiveness, which will include all economic European activities such as shipping and “paranautical” activities.
Stylianidis stated that Greek shipping, which corresponds to 61% of the European fleet, can play a decisive role in strengthening European competitiveness, underlining that one of the main stakes of the upcoming European elections is maintaining Europe’s competitiveness.
Regarding the decarbonization of shipping, he said that the revised strategy of the IMO for greenhouse emissions is in a positive development. As for the big problem of the lack of qualified seamen and the new needs created in maritime training in order to proceed with the green and digital shipping, he replied that this must be addressed on a global level.
Τhe minister stressed that the rapid globalized developments require us to accelerate reforms in Europe. “Let’s think outside the box. Let’s be radical but at the same time realistic.”
“I agree with former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that the European Union needs a ‘new leap of convergence’. In order to do this, we need to immediately revisit the concept of ‘unification’. Because in today’s Europe economic convergence is not enough” he underlined.