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Mr.

Estimated commissioner,

the representatives of the local governments and the Greek Parliament.

Dear representatives of the municipality, dear guests, ladies and gentlemen, my name is Maria Cardoso,

and I would like to give you a warm welcome to Europe Day 2026 here at Thessaloniki on the 9th of May. This is a town of strategic importance.

Which during the past years is enhancing its own position on the European map and is showcasing the role of Greece.

This is not coincidental because this city has become a hub of investment and connectivity,

bringing together Europe with the southeastern side of it.

And this is the proof that Europe is about infrastructure that can connect people and countries and can build an axis of stability.

So in the framework of today's event, we are also going to talk about the cross-border collaboration among Greece, Romania and Bulgaria and the construction of very important axis of connectivity,

connecting, Greece, Thessaloniki and Bucharest through Papandropoulos, and you know, everyone,

how important this is because it enhances the strategic, Autonomy of Europe.

Before we get started with the main events,

I would like to ask you cell phones on silent and also I would like to inform you that there is simultaneous interpretation from and into English.

I would like now give the floor to Ms.

N, the head of the representation of the European Commission in Greece, for a welcome speech. Thank you very much, Ms. Karaoglou. Good morning, everyone.

I would like to welcome everyone, estimated Mr.

Commissioner, dear members of the Greek Parliament, dear ministers, dear representatives of the municipality of Papandropoulos,

dear representatives of the local governments, and From that. The European Commission in Greece. We're here to celebrate Europe Day.

Europe Day celebrated each year on the 9th of May, and It is a day that reminds us of the vision of Robert Schuman back in 1950,

the moment that Europe was just recovering from the destruction of the Second World War,

underlining that coal and steel,

the two main Ingredients of the then industry.

So the idea was to put these two, coal and steel, under the same umbrella,

so as to be able to prevent the repetition of another work of this caliber.

Ever since, many things have changed and many policies have come to the forefront and this vision.

The vision of collaboration among all the member states of the European Union is a dream come true,

and this is thanks to the creation of a community of values which is unique in the world. Today's event is an event that is.

Of this vision and the support of other visions such as the memorandum of collaboration,

memorandum of understanding among Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece. Without further ado.

I would only like to tell you that this is a very important day for me as well.

It is a great pleasure for me to be here.

Last year, we were Southeastern Greece for Europe Day 2025 this year,

we are here in northern Greece in Papandropoulos,

crossroads of commerce, knowledge, and economy.

This is not coincidental, of course, because Papandropoulos is a hub.

For the access that we're going to talk about further on in the following speeches.

So with our commitments, That Europe is not just in, in, in Brussels or in Athens,

but it is close to all the citizens of Europe and we are here to explain and help people understand,

especially the younger ones, what the benefits are.

We started a set of events a couple of days ago on Thursday and specific.

We were in Orresiada and we want to thank the mayor of Orestiada for having us.

We visited all the schools of the town and then,

Friday we had a tour in the wider area to pay a visit on various projects taking place at the moment.

We also visited one high school of Alexandroupoli and we visited the library of Papandropoulos and tonight we're going to participate.

In the night marathon which is taking place and the slogan of this year's event is we're running together for Europe,

but also.

In Athens at the moment in the sense experience.

People are attending this event live via web streaming.

I want to thank the mayor of Papandropoulos and the regional governor for having us and for helping us to host this event.

I want to thank everyone who contributed to the success of that. Your support is a strong message.

Europe is here for its citizens, for everyone.

I wish you all the best in Europe. Stay strong. Stay united. Mr.

Before moving on, I would also like to welcome Mr. Anton Stankov and Corina Cretsu.

They are here and they are also going to have their speeches later on. Also, I would like to thank Ms.

Ribo for her welcome speech, and now I would like to give the floor to Mr.

Christos Aidonis, the governor of the region of Isso, Macedonia in Greece.

Estimated European Commissioner, estimated members of the Parliament, and estimated ministers. Roy.

And to your representatives of the institutions of the area, ladies and gentlemen,

it is a great honor for all of us to have you here in Papandropoulos.

This is a very Important day for Europe,

a day that has an important footprint for our joint future.

Europe Day is a day to remind us that our continent and its future is based on constant collaboration and joining forces and finding solutions.

Today here in Alexandropolis, these values and principles. Are becoming true.

The representatives from Greece, Romania,

and Bulgaria is proof that cross-border collaboration is the only reliable response to modern challenges.

At the same time, this is the most solid base in order to make the best use of all the opportunities.

That appear before us always with the support of the EU within this framework, the memorandum of understanding for the creation of a corridor platform between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea is a very important step towards at the same time,

with the financing and the support of the EU of the connection between Thessaloniki and Bucharest. Papandropoulos is creating a new landscape. Mr.

Costas, dear Commissioner,

your initiative is actually underlining your own beliefs on the position of this area in the European map showcasing how important this is.

This is something that makes us feel proud.

Of our own place and we are waiting for what is to come at the same time,

me being here today is a great opportunity for me to thank you for giving us the chance to participate in this very constructive dialogue.

With multiple parties in Brussels in order to talk about the rule of our region, ladies and gentlemen,

we are here to make a common pledge and turn the geography of our area into a strategic advantage.

For the whole of Europe we know who we are. We know what our responsibility is.

The region of eastern Macedonia and Thrace is not only limited to hosting infrastructure projects,

but we are an active partner in the. Decision making and these initiatives.

This is a point where the Black Sea, the Balkans,

and the Aegean Sea meet and we are a natural bridge among those areas.

We support the creation of the platform between the.

And the Black Sea and we enhance all actions that promote connectivity and resilience and transport.

At the same time, we recognize that modern infrastructure is not just about economy, it's also about security.

And military mobility which is supported by the European Commission and this goes together with the existence of resilient roads of connection.

Papandropoulos is a critical point for this new European architecture.

Ladies and gentlemen, in an era of geopolitical changes and growing.

One thing is for sure, no country can move on on its own.

The collaboration between Greece, Bulgaria,

and Romania is an example of cross-border collaboration.

We can create together a single network of transport which is going to enhance the competitivity of Europe and is going to contribute to the development of the wider area.

Before I conclude, I want to highlight that today this is an important day for the new era of Europe where Eastern Macedonia and Thrace is not going to be just an area at the borders of Europe,

but one of its pillars,

and we will continue to work together towards the achievements of the common European vision. Thank you.

Thank you very much, the original governor,

and I would like to give the floor to the mayor of, Papandropoulos for his own welcome speech. Good morning. Good morning, Papandropoulos.

Today it's Europe Day,

a day which is a very important reminder of the values and the principles that connect us all. It's peace, solidarity, collaboration. Papandropoulos is a place of high importance.

The selection of our town for this year's celebrations is not a coincidence,

but it is proof of its importance as a crossroads among areas where the European continent is meeting its own borders and realizes the idea of cross-border collaboration.

Has always been a multicultural place where different identities have coexisted and shaped a joint identity.

This is a town which of of people that have learned very well how to live together and create together. This is our strength.

This is the proof that we can look into the future without forgetting where we started from.

Today and this year's Europe Day is actually a reminder that Europe is constructed through places that come together and people that work together.

Papandropoulos is an example,

an example of a town which is making the best use of its very location. Ladies and gentlemen, being here today. Of great symbolic character.

Papandropoulos is not in the margin of Europe, but it is at a point.

It is located at the point where Europe is experiencing its own values of collaboration.

This place has always been a place where collaboration was always important, and this is not just memories from the past,

but it is like the continuation of this communication and this connection among people.

Our town is ready to become not just a transit point,

but a living organism where transport and wider connectivity will serve.

With safety, accessibility, and respect for all citizens,

because a town can be functional when it builds bridges,

not just geographically but also among people.

The contribution of the EU in the cross-border collaboration is underlined even more through new projects of infrastructure.

So we are looking forward to hearing from The people that are most involved in that,

what the future plans are about project of connectivity among Greece,

Romania and Bulgaria.

This is a project of high importance not just for the Balkans but for Europe and its connectivity as a whole.

I would like to mention another initiative of the municipality of Papandropoulos where the role of the local government is maybe a little bit more limited.

However, we deeply believe that towns need to participate in the shaping of their own future with extroversion.

So in this context,

And after a really productive meeting that we had with the president of the National Center of Research and Development,

Mr.

Parris,

we are suggesting the signing of a memorandum between the center and the municipality of Papandropoulos with the goal to create a branch of the center here in our city.

This initiative has to our town into a point of reference for smart infrastructure and applications of sustainable mobility,

making the best use of its geostrategic position.

Our goal is to showcase the role of our port, airport,

and railroad system and support it through new research tools at the same time.

Are Focusing on a new Centers of the center of research and development which are going to focus on a green transition and new technologies.

We are hoping that this collaboration can actually be fruitful as a catalyst for local development by creating new opportunities for the local community,

attracting high level.

Scientific and research, Experts in eastern Macedonia and Thrace,

our city is aiming to become a place of a very active role in the European map of technological development and cross-border collaboration.

These are interventions and projects that enhance cohesion, development,

and the strategic importance of our town by turning Papandropoulos into a modern. Hub of collaboration, connectivity and interoperability. Europe, wish you all the best.

Thank you very much to the mayor of Alex and we will continue with the keynote speaker.

We are very happy to have here with us the EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and tourism, Mr.

Apostolositostas, who is going to talk to us about the vision of the EU on transport in Europe and this cross-border collaboration. Mr. Dicenta, the floor is yours. Ladies and gentlemen.

First of all, they are ministers, they are members of the Greek Parliament, the original governor, their mayors. The representatives of the church.

Dear consul and former commissioner of the EU,

I'm really glad to see you all here today. Dear counsel. Of the Republic of Bulgaria in Greece. Ladies and gentlemen. Me The 9th of May. It is undoubtedly a very unique day.

It is Europe Day,

and I think that Papandropoulos is the most suitable location place for someone to talk about Europe.

This is a place where the borders of Europe are,

and I deeply believe that the heart of Europe.

Is not Just in Brussels or in Strasbourg.

The heart of Europe beats in all corners of the EU, in all those regions which are based on the principles and values that come from ancient Greek values, the Roman times,

and the values of Christianity,

values that have changed and been modified throughout the centuries and have given to us this gift of human rights,

peace and solidarity.

And these values and this region of values is based on its own geography,

so we're talking about a geographical area which is defined by borders and is distinguished and separated from the surrounding world,

not because they are enemies, but because thanks to that.

There can be solid guarantees of these values.

For this reason we want to send a powerful message towards all directions.

We are here in Thrace not just to celebrate a day of commemoration,

but because we want to prove what it means to be.

In the European Union and to show actual solidarity, to have common strategies to support with actual financing,

what does it mean to create a project that starts from Europe and extends throughout the whole of Europe?

You The 9th of May reminds us of where we started from.

Europe was born after the Second World War.

A continent that had suffered from the war and it was born as a promise of peace.

And reconciliation among the peoples of Europe that had suffered so many,

so much conflict, and this is the vision. No, not all problems were solved immediately.

The great miracle though was the fact that we decided to live together,

to coexist together with our differences and to use those differences and turn them from a casus belly into a basis of collaboration.

This is what the European Union is about.

But it's not just about remembering who we are and where we started from.

We also need to keep working on the destination that we want to reach,

so it is important to understand that in places like Thrace,

Greece is not just a theory or just a bureaucratical mechanism.

Europe here is about taking action and having prospects. Yesterday I visited.

The Frontex, the Greek police, Europol collaborates every single day.

The border area of northeastern Greece where I actually became witness of a Europe which is here to protect its own citizens that works together and coordinates operations and collaborations and makes the best use of technologies and its people.

That understands that security is not just an abstract idea. Security is an everyday reality.

I also visited Treaty, the regulatory station of LNG, which is enhancing the role of Alexandropolis as a hub in northeastern Europe and the Aegean Sea,

and there I saw a Europe which is safeguarding its own energy security in times that energy. Is being weaponized.

And we're not talking about just economy anymore.

We're talking about our independence, our security, our option to make political choices.

So all of this security, defense,

and energy are the very first pillar of our presence here today.

Europe is making investments here because here is where resilience can be built for the whole of the eastern part of.

Europe Other initiatives like the one that was mentioned previously by the mayor about the collaboration between the municipality and the National Center for Research and Development can create even more opportunities and reflect the potential of this area. So ladies and gentlemen, today. We're here. To talk about the 2nd pillar. The pillar of infrastructure. Transport and connectivity. And it's a great pleasure for me.

Here today to award to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure the grants of €277 million from the budget of infrastructure and transport of the EU.

The original governor,

this is The actual proof that this project is on top of our priorities. For the European Union with these resources.

Projects can be initiated in the rail part between Papandropoulos and Pitthene,

a total distance of 68.3 kilometers.

This is one of the biggest projects, as a matter of fact, in the field of transport and infrastructure,

which is going to take place in Greece within the next few years. Strategically speaking, it is.

Flagship because it is a very important connecting point.

In a very longer European rail axis which is going to connect the Aegean with the Black Sea,

Thessaloniki. And Papandropoulos. And Bucharesta.

Enhance Thrace and northern Greece and is going to showcase the whole area of southeastern Europe,

the Balkans, and Greece, of course. What does this mean?

It means that We are going to travel faster, more safely.

Supply chain is going to have more opportunities.

Our ports as well, and tourism will be enhanced,

that is to say, accessibility, development, and security.

In order to be able to understand this new geography which is being formed at the moment,

imagine that we are creating a corridor that can shorten,

times of transportation and connect this area with Costancia, Burgas, and Varna. This connectivity has three very important dimensions.

First, Strategic mobility in a world which is changing more and more.

The capacity of the EU and NATO to have mobility,

military mobility is a matter of collective. Security.

The 2nd dimension, competitiveness, commerce,

exports will give the chance to our people to continue their exports faster to Central and Eastern Europe. And the third pillar, the 3rd dimension.

It's tourism because tourism is not about visibility only. It's about accessibility. It's about safety, and it's about infrastructure. I think so.

It is a way for people to be able to enjoy the benefits of this aspect of development.

So ladies and gentlemen, in Europe we need to be able to feel.

European citizens, we need to be able to Feel the presence of our continent in our everyday life,

and big infrastructure projects do have this power. These projects can incorporate and connect. Development.

This kind of project like the vertical axis which is going to connect Greece with Bulgaria and Romania is Also,

a reversion of historical importance. Why? Because in the Balkans, in this peninsula.

In the past, Things used to be very different,

so this infrastructure is Sign of the changes that have Come up to now.

This is an area where conflict was prevalent in previous decades, but now we are opening a new chapter,

and Papandropoulos and Thrace are in the epicenter of this new era.

We are at the center of the lap of energy, competitiveness.

And security, and this is not just coincidental.

It is the result of a plan of specific choices and national and European strategy that meets here.

This as part of a wider European transition because Europe nowadays.

As not just facing Just a few challenges,

but is facing a constantly changing world.

At some point we even wondered whether geography plays a role anymore.

We just thought that economy would be enough for supply chains to be working seamlessly,

that war would never come back. To the threshold of Europe.

But now ladies and gentlemen, we know that this is not true anymore.

The war in Ukraine, the crisis in the Middle East,

the energy crisis, outside pressures, geopolitical.

Challenges and all of this discussion on European defense and autonomy,

all of this leads us to make one conclusion.

A Europe of peace needs to also be a Europe of power. We're not talking about aggressive power.

I'm not talking about a form of power which is negating its very own principles and values.

I'm talking about that form of power that can serve as a guarantee and a protector of its own borders,

principles, values, and peace of its own citizens, ladies and gentlemen.

Very often that Greece is lagging behind,

that it's taking too long for Europe to put things into action. That please. Let me tell you one thing.

We are at the point of initiation of a very big project, so let me disagree with that. Europe today is not. A receding geographical area.

It is An economic power of 450 million citizens and a GDP of €17 trillion but it's not just about numbers and figures.

It's about Europe's capacity to turn crises into opportunities.

And of course, yes, we need to admit that Europe has not always been quick enough.

Decision making was not always easy, and how could this be?

We are talking about a union of 27 member states with different experiences,

different economies, different social needs.

And Different geographical sensibilities, if I may say so.

And you know this is difficult to deal with.

It takes time and sometimes, believe me, It is even exhausting, but It's also our democratic supremacy because Europe in this way can talk openly about its mistakes,

to recognize where it took too long to take action, to be open to criticism,

and through that become better and better, because ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, Europe is not afraid of dialogue. Europe is not afraid of. B. Questioned by the different voices. On the contrary, through this it takes.

Steps forwards through crisis, moves forwards from the financial crisis to the pandemic crisis to the Ukraine,

Europe has proven that it is not stagnant, and this is what is most important.

This is the power of the union which produces decisions through dialogue and turns those decisions into work,

infrastructure, security.

And most importantly, perspective for its own citizens.

So before we conclude, ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to Address to the people of Papandropoulos and eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

Many times we hear people talking about a Europe of the elite, but I'm here today before you talking to you about a Europe of work,

a Europe which is recognizing the importance of this area and gives those people back the security and the development that they deserve. Today's event.

Is a strong message to all the corners of the continent and Greece. Greece I The protagonist of this.

Shaping of the policies of Greece and this trilateral collaboration among Greece, Bulgaria.

Is of high importance and at the same time our borders are impermeable. Our roads are.

For the creation of Welfare for everyone in Greece,

but borders are protected in the next period of time.

We will be able to announce the full timeline of the project and it's,

funding.

Planned a project that will connect Greece, Romania, and Libya. Ladies and gentlemen, Europe Day.

And we are here and we are connected and united.

We are here ready to make decisions on a political,

technical, and institutional level. We are ready to proceed. But we are also taking pride. In our very own values. This is the Europe that we want.

This is the Europe that we want to serve. This is a Europe of power. Interconnectivity and hope.

Because ladies and gentlemen,

Rest assured Our future Is the future of Europe. Thank you very much.

Commissioner, thank you very much for your speech and through your speech.

Yes, we can understand that the commitment of Europe is not just on paper, but it is actual work and that.

The role of the European Commission is very important in the upgrading of the infrastructure and transport projects in Greece and the whole of Europe. So thank you for your message.

Now I would like to give the floor to Mr.

Frisco's teams, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure.

The Commissioner of the EU, dear colleagues in the Greek government and the Greek Parliament, the regional governor, the general director, their representatives of the church,

the consuls of Bulgaria in the the representatives of the institutions, ladies and gentlemen,

it is an honor for me to be here to give you a welcome speech for Europe Day here in Alexandropolis.

The selection of, this town of Alexanropolis is a sign of,

the need to keep connecting,

the Security and connectivity needs.

Greece is a crossroads of international networks and is a connecting point with other European parts. This is more than obvious.

In times of geopolitical turbulence, and in order to be able to respond to these challenges,

we need to keep investing in that.

This is an investment of intra-European network of connectivity and so we want to further connect it with the rest of the networks in European and we expect to have an enhanced.

Spatial distribution of investment opportunities in all of the regions of Europe and the safeguarding of our security bridges,

roads, railroads, logistics centers, ports and airports of this inter-European network and Greece.

Hubs of the global geopolitical network which is connecting infrastructure, energy systems, supply chains, corridors of multiple uses,

and a framework of security and can create a flow of resilience and geopolitical and strategic importance for Greece. Intra-European corridors are also connected with IMA. Which can shape, international.

Networks are connecting Asia with other networks of the value chain.

Papandropoulos is going to be one of the points of connecting with IMEC by supporting the connectivity between the north and the south and the connectivity with markets that are covered by BBA.

Corridor that was also mentioned previously before by the commissioner between the Baltic Sea,

the Black Sea, and the Aegean Sea.

Let me tell you that the connection between the ports of Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece, and more specifically the port of Papandropoulos,

Kavala, and Thessaloniki with the ports of Burgas,

Varna Russse and This is going to change the landscape.

This corridor is between two big zones of instability.

We have the war in Ukraine to the north and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East to the south.

This is a very critical point, a point at which Greece.

And Bulgaria with the unquestionable support of the European Commission and the Greek Commissioner of Transport and Infrastructure can support our stance and position.

The first suggestion is The participation of the cohesion.

And increased opportunity of making use of the military mobility envelope in order to be able to have this suggestion to be mature enough,

we are going to use consulting by making sure that we have a high level of technical efficiency and sufficiency in European added value within BB-8 and this trilateral. Collaboration.

The access between Papandropoulos and Odessa is proven to be a reliable alternative between the Black Sea and the Aegean,

diversifying routes and enhancing the resilience of supply chains in the European security and regional resiliency with the contribution and the help of the Commissioner.

In 2025,

we had the chance to Talk about the importance of this axis within this framework.

The rail between Papandropoulos Pia is already a project of strategic importance that has got funding from the EU through the Connecting Europe Facility,

enhancing in this way the cross-border connectivity and the role of the area as a gate to the east of Europe.

With this constantly changing environment,

the investment on behalf of Greece in infrastructure that are part of the inter-European network turns our country into a very important European gates that can serve eastern Mediterranean.

Connected to the east and the north of Europe, hubs of flows, energy,

and stability and connection of regional resilience together with the global value chains in Papandropoulos,

Kavala, Thessaloniki, Iita, Patras, P, E,

E, all of these investments.

Under work at the moment and, it's an added value of inter modality network of connection,

a new logistics center in Thessaloniki in the former camp of Gno and is supporting even more the Creation and the comprehension of a network that will turn Greece into a hub of collection and redistribution to the south and the east of Europe. All of these projects.

And not just the individual initiatives but are part of a wider strategy. For me.

With the goal to create Strong access from the north to the south and the east to the west.

Within this framework,

we want to emphasize on projects that can support the access north-south and safeguards the cross-border flow of product.

And Be the sign of collaboration among these countries.

The dimension of military mobility is becoming more and more important on a European level,

and it seems that it's going to become one of its top priorities because we want to enhance the eastern part of Europe from the Baltic.

Cyprus and Eastern Mediterranean and we want to enhance fast mobility of military forces in times of crisis.

You can see this reflected in our regional initiatives as well because the support of infrastructure of mobility is part of a connecting corridor between the Aegean and the Black Sea.

In this way we contribute to security and economic resilience of Europe.

Intensive work on a national level and collaboration with the Commission and the member states of the European Union is a political decision,

a decision to invest in security, economic resilience, development, and connectivity.

Together with the international networks in an environment of growing geopolitical challenges,

Southeastern Europe is becoming a new landscape for the shaping of new strategic goals for Europe in the field of transport. And energy.

Greece by making the best use of its geostrategic position and by investing in this cross-border collaboration contributes to the creation of this new European space.

We wish you all the best and we hope that we are going to have the most fruitful results as soon as possible. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr. Demos.

Now I would like to give the floor to Mr.

Karannikis, alternate, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Greece.

Commissioner, thank you very much for choosing Papandropoulos and Evros.

For today's events for the celebration of Europe Day 2026, this is the initiation point of Europe.

This is an important day for all of us,

a day that acts as a reminder of where we started from and reminds us where we are heading towards. Let me share.

A very short anecdotal story with you about Evros in this part of Greece.

Previously I was in the digital digital governance ministry,

and we worked on a very ambitious project. People were being skeptical about it. Yeah.

So here in Papandropoulos we have a Greek.

Business that started as a family business actually.

And a very young woman who is here with us today, for many,

many years when all of this discussion was very immature yet and even sounded unrealistic.

So this young woman worked really hard because she wanted to make and construct.

A satellite made in Greece that would be part of a European. In the Satellite system.

This sounds like a very utopic vision, probably you can imagine this happening in other countries like the United States or China,

but With the European Union's support and funding,

these satellites that were constructed here in Alexandropolis by Greek engineers today are out in outer space and actually. I had the pleasure.

To meet Dimitra before today's event and she showed to me.

The orbits, the trajectory of this satellite at the moment it is actually in Los Angeles. What does this all mean?

It means that when we join forces, when we know where we're heading and what we want to achieve.

The impossible can be possible because I As Robert Schuman had said,

Europe cannot be built.

Overnight and this is not the goal actually.

All of these things that we have been talking about today and all of these things that we have been building together on a daily basis with the European Commission,

the European businesses that are based not in Brussels or Strasbourg but Businesses which are based in every single town of Europe close to the borders or not,

this is the proof of what we can achieve when we are together.

So all of these values, especially in times of crisis and instability,

the concept of Europe being able to supervise from up above and protect.

Supervise the functioning of our borders and the civil protection.

And now, dear commissioner, you also know We've discussed that in the European Commission before.

Now this can even contribute to rail road system security. So for now Greece.

For the first time is becoming a member of this system and can actually follow every single minute the route of a train and Be able to show to the people,

the people that actually use the trains and the staff, the personnel working.

This is how modern rail transport needs to function, especially on a cross-border concept.

All of his efforts are put together for the achievement of a vision,

the vision to connect people.

People that have been using railroad system since the 19th century.

The very train station of Pinian has been a very important point of the railroad system of the past like Orient Express.

People had know how to work and live together since the 19th century.

This area has experienced times of crisis, these times belong to the past. In the previous decades.

We've seen Some attempts on behalf of other governments to isolate those areas.

And areas of regions of Bulgaria and Romania were actually isolated and mobility was not easy. Today though.

Since December 2025 when we signed this very important memorandum of understanding and collaboration among Greece,

Bulgaria, and Romania. And this is the moment.

Of our actual Collaboration on a practical level.

In June we are going to actually have our 3rd meeting where Ministers And also leaders of military forces will join forces in order to be able to become independent and autonomous in order for Greece and Europe to Become completely independent. It From the area. Of the Bosphorus Strait.

So let's stop and think what this all means.

Imagine that When this comes true,

it's only going to take a few hours for military forces to move from one point to another and not weeks as it has been happening so far.

This is a great change and a change that wouldn't be possible to be made without the support of the European Commission.

In the need for us to be able to show to our citizens what Europe means in practice.

Yes, dear Commissioner, we need to be quick.

President Macron, some time ago when he was in Davos.

He talked about Europe mentioning that it is too slow. Mr. Dimas, the minister, Mr.

Mitropoulos from his own position in the ministry, you, dear Commissioner, and also the representatives of the regional governments,

you all know very well that the regulatory framework of the union that gives us the opportunity to turn ideas into actual work. To Make use of funds.

These are processes that sometimes are very slow, maybe the slowest in the world, when we can see that the United States or Arab countries,

China and other Asian countries and other areas of the planet that probably are not that advanced as Europe with a lot of GDP.

We can see that these areas of the world are moving much faster in these processes. So probably we need to wake up.

And today being a day of memory and celebration, Europe Day, which is making us feel very proud of who we are,

but at the same time we need to be honest with ourselves. Europe has.

To make a change, it has to change this framework.

It has to make it simpler, more efficient,

and faster because it is the European people that want to see faster results.

So we are before a very important project. And everybody has.

Talked about this project that we're very happy,

dear commissioner, for this and for the grants, probably.

OK Thessaloniki, Papandropoulos and Thessalonikis in the second phase of the big project Papandropoulos and,

you know that we need a bigger funding for that, and I'm sure that Europe is going to prioritize this. So this project.

That Our predecessors in the government of New Democracy had worked very hard from its very initial idea of putting this into practice until the completion of the project.

Have taken much longer than what it would in other competitive areas of the world,

but Greece and Europe needs to look its competitors in the eye.

We need to be brave in our decisions and we need to speak up.

And address These issues together with the high level representatives of the European government in Brussels and Strasbourg,

I'm also sure that the Commissioner of Sustainable Transport and tourism will try his best because I know that he has put his heart in that.

Jean Monnet had said that European citizens understand. And accept.

Change only when this appears to be a need. So now we do have this need.

We do have this urgent need to be able to have.

Our products, our people transported with security,

safety, and speed.

The port of Papandropoulos is going to connect with the port of Tallinn in Estonia. This is what BBA is about.

This is what the vertical axis between the Baltic, the Black Sea,

and the Aegean Sea is going to be about.

Two different gates to the north and the south of Europe will be connected through a reliable railroad system that will go through all these important areas of Eastern Europe,

the common borders of Europe.

This is a great change and It's our duty to try our best. I really hope that.

Our colleagues from the governments of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania will continue with this project.

I'm sure that we are going to have a very productive meeting at Thessaloniki in June,

and I'm really happy because we have agreed that from now on our suggestions.

Our joint suggestions for funding of these projects of infrastructure were going to be submitted on a trilateral level.

They are going to be suggestions that will be about all the.

Parties of this collaboration always together with the collaboration of the representatives of the military forces,

keeping in mind that we are building a Europe a future, a Europe for our kids. I. Thank you very much, Mr. Alternates, minister.

So ladies and gentlemen, now we'll continue with a very, Strong symbolically speaking. This is the culmination of today's events. I would like to ask Mr.

Decoster, the EU Commissioner of Transport and Sustainable Tourism and the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure in Greece.

So the commissioner is going to award the grant for the funding of the project of the railroad system between the Greeks and Tripolis and PCM. So please come on stage. A letter. Mr. Stay on stage for a family photo. Please, Ms. Kre, Mr.

Markó, join the rest of the representatives on stage for a group photo. Mr. Please do stay safe, OK. Let me go That's the.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to,

give the floor to the General Council of the Republic of Bulgaria in Thessaloniki, Mr. Anton Stankov.

Dear Commissioner Disi Tzitzikóstas, honorable ministers, distinguished colleagues.

It is a privilege to have the opportunity to address you today.

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the representation of the European Commission in Greece for organizing this event,

such a significant date,

providing us with an opportunity to demonstrate the strengthening of Europe's unity and cooperation.

Allow me At the outset, I underlined the shared conviction regarding the strategic.

The importance of the memorandum of understanding which was signed in December 2025 between Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania.

This memorandum reflects not only A political commitment,

but a clear vision for cross-border cooperation within the Black Sea Agency.

Corridor and beyond towards the Danube and Baltic Sea.

We believe That the action plan Accompanying the memorandum provides a solid and pragmatic framework for progress.

Its competitive scope. Covering railways,

roads, ports, inlet, waterways.