Enhancing energy security and rail transport upgrade were at the heart of the 2nd Supreme Cooperation Council of Greece – Italy, with the signing of two important Memorandums of Understanding providing triple interconnection of the two countries and investments of 360 million euros in Greece.

The two countries have signed a protocol of drug cooperation, but also for cooperation at the level of assistance and combating fires.

He was also signed a protocol for cooperation in industrial policy, as well as for cooperation in space digitization and technologies.

At the same time, the two countries signed a cooperation protocol at the level of Transport Ministries, as well as a protocol of cooperation for the reform of public administration.

In the context of the cooperation of the two countries, a protocol for cooperation in the Civil Protection was also signed.

A protocol was also signed for cooperation with electrical interconnection.

In joint statements with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Georgia Meloni described today’s work as very important, stressing that “we have taken the commitment that it would not pass eight years before a new intergovernmental conference of our countries. Our relations are excellent, without our countries Europe would not exist, we are members of the EU, NATO, we are sitting next to the European Councils and next year we will succeed each other in the EU presidency. “

He also recalled that the two countries belong to the Med5, Med5 and the North-South Summit, which has changed to the positive and image of the countries of Mediterranean Europe.

Georgia Meloni stressed, at the same time, that a new emphasis would be placed on defense cooperation and the fight against irregular migration, “issues on which there is a great deal of sympathy with the Greek prime minister”. “We mean to continue working with Kyriakos to change the whole approach to Europe. We have managed to move the center of gravity to protecting the external borders, the fight against traffickers and to cooperate with the transit countries, “he added.

He emphasized that the prime minister shared the position in favor of a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine, and that they await the Russian response to the need to cease fire unconditionally and the Zelensky-Putin meeting.

Referring to Gaza, the head of the Italian government stressed that green light should be given to providing humanitarian aid and that the Arab countries’ efforts are based on a security framework. He also said that the two countries support the Western Balkan integration of the EU.

Referring to the cooperation in the financial sector, he emphasized that it is expanding to fiber -fiber cables, and in particular to the cooperation of Blue Med and Green Med initiatives and aiming to overflow the electrical interconnections of the two countries.

The Italian Terna and its Greek corresponding company signed an agreement worth about 2 billion euros ($ 2.22 billion) to double the capacity of the electrical interconnection between Italy and Greece, the Italian prime minister said.

“Ferrovie Dello Stato’s agreement with the Greek Ministry of Transport is particularly important. It gives a new impetus to a strategic cooperation. We will play the role that is best for us, in the best way. I think it’s a positive message we send in our cooperation, “said Georgia Meloni.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ statements

“We did not have a formal diplomatic meeting, but an essential opportunity to coordinate our pace with a passion for all issues from regional developments to immigration,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined in his joint statements with Italian and Italian leaders. “We are sharing deeply political historical and economic links that are united by common challenges in a world of increased uncertainty,” he added.

He pointed out the need for a more frequent meeting of the Supreme Cooperation Council, which is also reflected by the multitude of agreements signed under the USSR and emphasized the will of the two sides to expand our cooperation at bilateral and European level.

“The joint statement we signed reflects strategic cooperation. We want to triple the cooperation of our two countries in electrical interconnection, ”the prime minister noted

He particularly referred to the important – as he described it – an agreement between the Italian state -run railway company, which he said, “we could not achieve without the personal support of the Italian Prime Minister and thank you personally.” In particular, he noted that this was a re -launch of the relationship, which was “tested in the light of the Tempe tragedy” and with which Greece is called upon to invest more than 400 million in the network upgrading and modern security systems installation and the Italian 360m euros for new trains and trains.

He further said that the two prime ministers discussed economic relations and bilateral trade. “We can achieve more, attract more Italian investments,” Mr Mitsotakis stressed.

He also said that they talked about Syria and Libya, noting that “Greece in the migration found its strongest ally” and explained: “We are no longer talking about internal redistribution of refugees but about protecting our borders and fighting the circuits of the traffickers,

He then referred to Ukraine, noting that “we support unconditionally 30 days”.

He also said that they agreed that European defense and Greek -Italian defense cooperation should be strengthened, saying that “in this area we can and should do more”.

“Finally, we share the view that our cooperation with the US is necessary and necessary to reach a mutual and beneficial trade agreement. We have to avoid a trade war, we must make every effort to keep the West united against the challenges we have in front of us, “the prime minister added.

What include energy and investment agreements in rail transport

In particular, during the 2nd Supreme Council of Cooperation of Greece – Italywhich met today in Rome, agreements were finalized in the fields of energy and investment in rail transport.

1. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between ADMIE and the Italian Terna network manager to upgrade the electrical interconnection of the two countries to triple the existing opportunity, from 500 MW to 1,500 MW.

As Greece increases its installed power generation power, especially through investment in renewables, it upgrades its position as an energy hub and energy security provider in Southeast Europe. Last year, Greece was a net electricity exporter for the first time since 2000. Italy, for its part, introduces large amounts of energy, so it is a mutually beneficial cooperation.

The project is also aligned with the importance of the Greek government to the construction of transnational electrical interconnections, to tackle chronic pricing distortions in the European energy market, but also to ensure better supply, reducing the risk of blackout, like the one that happened a few weeks ago.

2. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Greek Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the Italian State Group Ferrovie Dello Stato, to which Hellenic Train belongs to upgrading passenger rail transport in Greece.

Given the Greek state’s investment order for the logistical upgrading of the railways, the Italian group pledged to invest 360m euros for:

  • The purchase of a total of 23 trains, eight intercity rapid traffic and 15 suburban type
  • The formation of modern trains to ensure long -term maintenance of trains

The Ferrovie Dello Stato Group’s commitments will be clearly reflected in the new revised contract of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport with the Hellenic Train, with timetable clauses.

The two Memorandums above are included in the total 12+2 agreements and mous’ signed in the context of the 2nd ASS of Greece – Italy and are described in detail in the Joint Declaration of the two leaders.

The backdrop of the deal for new trains

As part of the Supreme Cooperation Council between Greece and Italy, and in the presence of Prime Ministers Meloni and Mitsotakis, today a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Greek Ministry of Transport and the Italian State Group Ferrovie dello Statoto which Hellenic Train belongs to upgrading passenger rail transport in Greece.

The Italian group pledged to make Investments of 360 million euros for the purchase of a total of 23 train, 8 intercity rapid and 15 suburban typebut of modern train stations to ensure their long maintenance.

The Greek prime minister’s claim was accepted after strong pressure but also a series of actions carried out by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport that convinced the Italians. Specifically, the signing of the contracts for the restoration of the line in Thessaly, the underground of the Sepolia, the installation of ETCS, the new security valves provided for by the bill, such as the Single Supervisory Center and the System of Accurate Train Geotopes, as well as the deterrence of the sabotage of the sailboat, were regulated by the desolation of the grid. Italy.

Italian colossus commitments, Ferrovie Dello Stato, will be clearly reflected in the new revised contract of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport with Hellenic Train With clauses for timetables. The same will happen with OSE’s obligations on the projects he must perform at a rapid pace.

The two prime ministers welcomed the agreement, talking about a decisive re -launch of both the conventional and the essential relations of the two states on the issues of the railway.

The agreement, which ended last Thursday at the meeting between Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and Greek Deputy Minister of Infrastructure & Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis, was also formally signed by Ferrovie’s Managing Director Dello Stato Stato Stato Stato Stato Stato Stato Stato