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Spain and Greece Seek Common Mediterranean Positions on Infrastructure
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Energy & Infrastructure

Spain and Greece Seek Common Mediterranean Positions on Infrastructure

From ABC Color · (10m ago) Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Spain and Greece are seeking common Mediterranean positions on infrastructure development and the EU's next budget.
  • Discussions focused on establishing green maritime corridors and enhancing rail infrastructure collaboration.
  • Both nations aim to present a united front on issues like the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for maritime transport and cross-border connectivity.

Spain and Greece are actively forging closer ties to champion shared interests within the Mediterranean region, particularly concerning crucial infrastructure development and the European Union's future financial framework.

Greece and Spain have common interests, they are ports in southern Europe and have fundamental competition in the ports of North Africa.

— Óscar PuentePuente highlights the shared strategic importance of Greek and Spanish ports and their competitive position within the broader European context.

Spanish Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, engaged in productive discussions with members of the Greek government, including Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, and Minister of Transport, Christos Dimas. A key outcome of these meetings was the identification of common ground on the EU's maritime Emissions Trading System (ETS). Both Spain and Greece, as vital southern European ports, recognize their strategic importance and the need to align their positions in upcoming negotiations, especially in light of competition from North African ports.

a 'realistic approach' at the European and international level regarding the decarbonization of maritime transport, taking into account 'the real potential of the market, the availability of alternative fuels and the pressures facing the European economy.'

— Vasilis KikiliasKikilias outlines Greece's perspective on the challenges and considerations for achieving a green transition in the shipping sector.

The ministers also explored the establishment of 'green maritime corridors' between their countries, aiming to progressively reduce or achieve near-zero emissions in maritime transport. Minister Kikilias stressed the importance of a 'realistic approach' to decarbonization, considering market potential, the availability of alternative fuels, and the broader European economic context. This collaborative spirit extends to rail infrastructure, where Greece has expressed significant interest in partnering with Spain.

the two countries should have a position 'as shared as possible' given their status as peripheral members of the European Union.

— Óscar PuentePuente underscores the need for alignment between Spain and Greece on the next EU budget, emphasizing their shared position as peripheral nations.

Looking ahead to the 2028-2034 EU budget, Puente emphasized the need for a 'as shared a position as possible' between Spain and Greece, given their status as peripheral EU members. Discussions touched upon trans-border connections and overall connectivity. Spanish companies like INECO and Indra Sistemas are already involved in projects in Greece, and there is keen interest in expanding cooperation in areas such as air traffic management through the Startical project and bus transport.

Greece is a country tremendously interested in collaboration with Spain.

— Óscar PuentePuente expresses the strong mutual interest between Greece and Spain in developing their railway infrastructure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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