Greek Shipping Minister Vasilis Kikilias says Greece to co‑shape global maritime policy

Greek Shipping and Island Policy Minister Vasilis Kikilias told delegates at the 10th Capital Link Maritime Leaders Summit that Greece, with about 5,800 Greek‑owned vessels, accounts for roughly 19‑20% of the world fleet, 61% of the EU fleet and 2% of EU GDP. He argued that this scale gives Greece a responsibility to help set international shipping rules, not merely follow them, and pledged active participation in the IMO and European discussions.

Kikilias highlighted that 80‑90% of global trade moves by sea, making the security, resilience and freedom of maritime transport a strategic priority for the world economy. He linked this to current crises – the COVID‑19 pandemic, the war in Europe, the energy crisis and the conflict in the Middle East – and noted that a recent geopolitical flare‑up in the Strait of Hormuz has reshaped discussions on fuel transition for ships.

He called for policy decisions to be made in close cooperation with the shipping industry, stressing that industry expertise must guide regulatory choices.