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Participating in the General Assembly of the Union of Regions of Greece via direct connection from Brussels was Apostolos Tzitzikostas. The European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, after greeting the Assembly, had good news to convey to Athens. As he said, specific changes were passed yesterday in the EU that strengthen the role of the Regions and announced the vertical road and rail axis that will connect Thessaloniki with Bucharest, the exact plan of which will be signed on December 4.
Mr. Tzitzikostas began by saying: “It is a special honor for me to participate today, even from here, from Brussels, in the General Assembly of ENPE. And it is a special moment, not only because I have served this space for more than ten years, with a lot of work, responsibility, and faith, but also because ENPE has been, is, and will remain a large family of Greek regional self-government, a space for cooperation and connection of forces.”
He then emphasized: “For the first time, I am not at the General Assembly, but I am not here for a good reason. And that is because at yesterday’s meeting of the College of Commissioners, we made the decision, after months of negotiations, after a lot of pressure from my side, but also from the responsible Commissioner Raffaele Fitto, we managed to pass very specific changes for the new programming period, changes that strengthen the role of the Regions.
And so, since I heard some of today’s presentations, I will tell you that Europe understands, realizes the need to further strengthen the Regions in the new budget, and thus, it is back on the table, after yesterday’s decision we made, that the Regions must participate and not just watch as spectators, in a model that will be centralized, which was the concern of all of you during the previous period.
I think these are very pleasant news, as the 13 Regions of the country have proven through successive crises over the years, economic, health, energy, natural crises, price and inflation crises, that not only can they stand tall, but also keep society united. And this is the most solid foundation on which we can today build the new era of the Regions.”
Immediately after, Mr. Tzitzikostas pointed out: “When we started the great effort to strengthen the institution ten years ago, few believed that the Regions could manage European resources and complex European programs adequately and effectively. However, together we proved in practice that not only can we succeed, boosting the absorption rates of resources and project implementation, but also that the Regions are the most essential, reliable, and close governance institution to local communities. That is why today the demand for strong regional governance is not just an institutional request, as it may have been in previous years, but a historical necessity for Greece to become even stronger, for the country to operate even more effectively, to reduce distances and delays for politics to reach society. The reform coming in Local Government, the new Charter, the transition we hope for in regional governance, is a huge opportunity for the place, for our citizens, for development, for competitiveness.”
Referring to the EU, Mr. Tzitzikostas said: “Throughout the European Union, regional governance is a key pillar of Democracy. It is precisely there where Europe can reach where the European plan becomes a reality. And as a Commissioner through the sectors I am responsible for, I see every day the importance of the active participation of the Regions. And we will strengthen this even more in the coming years. Because Europe needs its Regions, and that is why we made the decision yesterday. Because it also needs the Greek Regions, which prove in practice that they can play a leading role in infrastructure projects, in investments, in tourism, in extroversion, in innovation, in solidarity, but also in social cohesion.”
At this point, the European Commissioner spoke about the railway connection between Thessaloniki and Bucharest:
“Transport and tourism are two major levers of development, from the large urban centers to the most remote islands and mountain villages, because when we invest in modern networks, in smart mobility, in sustainable transport, in modern tourist centers, we are not just building infrastructure, we are building strong local economies, creating opportunities. Thus, from the very first moment I took office as Commissioner, I set a specific project as a top priority on the European agenda. And that is nothing other than the vertical road and rail axis that will connect Thessaloniki with Bucharest. And after meetings with the responsible ministers, I am pleased to announce that on December 4, here in Brussels, we will sign together with the three ministers a precise plan with tight timelines, an action plan that will allow the projects to start immediately, so that Greece can finally connect with Romania by rail and road, with a modern highway.
You understand the advantages of this project. Strategically, Greece is entering a different track. And of course, the security of Europe is enhanced, because not only Greece is connected with Romania, but at the same time the Aegean is connected with the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. You understand what this means for our security, for transport, for trade, for extroversion, for tourism. Because essentially, Greece is now connected to Central Europe. And so, in the coming period, we will have very important initiatives to announce.”
Mr. Tzitzikostas added that the title “Restart” chosen for the General Assembly is of great significance in a time of great challenges that requires bold decisions. He thanked the Minister of Interior Theodoros Livanios for the work he has done, saying that “I consider him one of the best Interior Ministers Greece has ever known” and concluded:
“The Regions will therefore gain a more substantial role, greater responsibility, and trust. A strong Europe is built with strong Regions, it is built with a strong Greece that moves forward, a Greece with strong local communities.” (13/11/25)