E
urope made major steps towards building
a more solid euro zone, notwithstanding
widespread ambiguity and sometimes
slow responses to urgent problems. Safeguarding
the common currency through a deepening of the
EMU is the dominant policy issue at stake, and next
year should mark a new era of pro-growth policies
designed to confront recession and unemployment,
signalling the emergence of a new sustainable
growth model. The Greek presidency has set its pri-
orities within this framework.
Greece has an opportunity to promote its strategic
goals in various policy sectors, in accordance with
the European Commission working programme. In
particular, the strategic priority of the Greek Ministry
of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks is to build
a strong, coherent and inclusive transport and
telecommunications policy, laying the foundation for
further enhancing competitiveness and innovation
all across Europe.
In the transport sector, the Greek presidency of
the EU during the first half of 2014 will focus on
the following:
●Tackling bottlenecks, discontinuities and conges-
tion of transport networks, promoting the interop-
erability of infrastructures and the intermodality of
transport means through:
-the development of Trans-European Transport
Networks (TEN-T), putting emphasis on rail-
ways;
-the promotion of freight centres /logistics
centres and the development of rail/road plat-
forms according to the provisions of the
revised TEN-T network;
-the perseverance of a level of service and
maintenance for EU roads dedicated for use
Trade with Greece
26
We stand at a critical juncture for Europe.
The extent and intensity of the economic crisis
brought about historic challenges, raising
questions over the most significant feature of
European integration: the long-standing ability
of the European edifice to ensure shared
prosperity.
Setting the Greek
Presidency’s Priorities in
the Transport and
Telecommucations Sector
By Michalis Chrisochoidis, Minister of Infrastructure,
Transport and Networks
