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Speech at the Parliament of Portugal and meetings with government ministers and the Mayor of Lisbon were held during his official visit to the Portuguese capital by European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas. In his speech at the Portuguese Parliament, Mr. Tzitzikostas outlined the priorities and plans of the European Commission in the areas of his portfolio.
“My top priorities for the next five years are competitiveness, sustainability, and safety,” emphasized the Commissioner. “Amid great challenges, transportation is a beacon of stability and a lever for increasing competitiveness, for lower emissions, for enhancing Europe’s resilience,” he said. And he added: “In February, we will present the Industry Agreement, aiming at making Europe an attractive manufacturing hub, with good working conditions and an emphasis on social protection. A bright example of the economic significance of the European transportation industry is the Portuguese Palmela, one of the country’s largest exporting companies, employing over 5,000 people.”
The Commissioner referred to the initiation of the dialogue for the automotive industry and emphasized the production of the new generation of zero-emissions vehicles from Europe, and Palmela. He pointed out that the dialogue will lead to the Action Plan for the European Automotive Industry, which he will present on March 5th. “My priority is competitiveness and productivity, combined with attracting private capital to support investments, both on a national and EU level. We will achieve this goal by simultaneously simplifying our rules, reducing bureaucracy for our companies, and enhancing sustainability,” he noted.
He also mentioned the approval of the Competitiveness Plan by the European Commission last week, through which central directives for the next five years are given and more effective expenditure management is achieved, pointing to the enormous investment needs in transportation.
Regarding the Trans-European Transport Networks, Mr. Tzitzikostas emphasized that “the main goal is the better connection of European transport corridors with ports and the European maritime space. This is vital for Portugal, which is the starting point for the Atlantic corridor. It will contribute to improving the efficiency of trade and transportation and increasing economic competitiveness. Connecting cities with high-speed railways is also a crucial priority for us. We are working on a roadmap in this direction, and I know that the modernization of the railway network and the connection with Spain is a top priority for Portugal. A three-hour train journey from Lisbon to Madrid is achievable and you have my full support in this goal. Shorter travel times, more frequent routes, and seamless travel will increase Portugal’s attractiveness for tourists and businesses.”
Mr. Tzitzikostas noted that this year he will submit his proposal for the next multiannual financial framework and stated that he is investing in Portugal’s strong support for a financing mechanism that continues to support cross-border transport projects.
“I will also submit an investment plan for sustainable transport. But it is evident that we will need significantly more funding to achieve the provision of truly interconnected, affordable, and reliable transport services across the continent,” he stated.
Referring to tourism, the Commissioner, among other things, emphasized: “As for my homeland, Greece, tourism is also an economic and developmental pillar for Portugal. I look forward to working with the Portuguese government to ensure that we have a tourism strategy that helps our local communities and companies promote sustainable forms of tourism, respecting our traditions, nature, and cultural heritage.”
In Lisbon, Mr. Tzitzikostas had successive bilateral meetings initially with the Minister of Economy of Portugal Pedro Reis, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Tourism Pedro Machado and the President of Tourism de Portugal Carlos Abade, subsequently with the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz, and then with the Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel, while he also met with the Mayor of Lisbon Carlos Moedas. (6/2/2025)