The International Conference of Balkan and Black Sea Regions, held in Patras, within the framework of the work of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and the Balkan & Black Sea Commission, was attended by the President & CEO of OLPA S.A. and President of the Association of Greek Ports, Panagiotis G. Anastasopoulos. The conference brought together representatives of European institutions, international organizations, regional authorities and bodies from the wider Balkan and Black Sea region, focusing on issues of transport, connectivity, energy, resilience and blue economy.
During his statement, Mr. Anastasopoulos highlighted the new geopolitical reality taking shape in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea and European maritime transport, noting that developments in recent years have brought back to the fore the strategic importance of maritime corridors as gateways to economic security, energy diversification and trade resilience for the European Union.
Particular emphasis was placed on the role of Greek ports, which are evolving into critical hubs of the European transport network, connecting Europe with the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Africa and the Black Sea. As highlighted, Greece's geographical position is not just a comparative advantage, but a strategic tool for securing the European supply chain and strengthening regional cohesion.
Referring specifically to the port of Patras, Mr. Anastasopoulos underlined that the city constitutes the natural western gateway of Greece and Southeastern Europe to the European Union, functioning as a hub for interconnection between East and West. The continuous strengthening of maritime connections with Italy, France, Turkey and Egypt, combined with the development of new freight and intermodal infrastructure, reinforces the role of Patras as a critical link in European transport and logistics corridors.
As he pointed out, in a period in which geopolitical rearrangements are redefining the maps of trade flows and supply chains, Patras can be a point of reference for the new transport architecture in the Eastern Mediterranean, substantially contributing to strengthening European competitiveness and the Union's strategic autonomy.
"Sea corridors are no longer just trade routes. They are corridors of stability, development and geopolitical power. Greek ports, and especially the port of Patras, today have the opportunity to play a leading role in shaping this new reality, acting as a bridge between the markets of the East and Europe and as the European Union's gateway to the West," he stated characteristically.
The conference focused on the challenges and opportunities related to connectivity, transport, the blue economy, the energy transition and cross-border cooperation in the Balkans and the Black Sea region, highlighting the crucial role of regions and ports in shaping the European policies of the future.
