Greek Island Minister Vasilis Kikilias pledges local solutions during Lesbos visit

Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy Vasilis Kikilias visited the island of Lesbos, meeting the new mayor Evangeline Laountou, the mayor of Patmos Nikitas Tsambalakis and the mayor of Leros. He emphasized that improvements for the islands must be devised by people who understand their specific needs.

Kikilias outlined the ministry’s priorities: upgrading port facilities, installing desalination units to solve water‑supply problems, accelerating the design and implementation of maritime projects, and further strengthening the Coast Guard with modern equipment. He also highlighted the recent appointment of former Lesbos mayor Fotis Mangs as General Secretary for the Aegean and Island Policy, describing it as both a symbolic and substantive move to better address the geographic and developmental challenges of Greece’s small and remote islands.