Northern Greece positioned as maritime and logistics hub at 7th Balkan Forum

The 7th Balkan Forum was held in Thessaloniki on 6 July 2026, organized by Greece’s Ministry of Interior (Macedonia & Thrace) and the Thessaloniki Concert Hall. The conference, themed “Maritime and Northern Greece: Challenges, Opportunities and Perspectives”, gathered more than 40 speakers from shipping, ports, transport, business, academia and the Balkans.

Participants highlighted the strategic role of Thessaloniki and the wider Macedonia‑Thrace region as a gateway linking Greece with the Balkans, the Black Sea, Central Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tsitsikos stressed the need to connect the port with rail and road networks. Greek ministers called for upgrading port facilities, improving combined transport and logistics, and fostering a “Blue Economy”. Celestyal Cruises announced a new cruise line from 2027 that will call at Northern Greek ports, linking Thessaloniki with Istanbul, Aegean islands, Egypt and Volos. The forum also focused on youth employment in maritime sectors and the integration of education with industry.