The meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, who will be the new Greek Commissioner in the European Commission, has been underway since 18:00.

Upon their arrival at the Maximos Mansion, cameras captured their brief conversation, with Mr. Tzitzikostas warmly thanking the Prime Minister for his decision to propose him as Greece’s new commissioner. “It is a unique honor for me. From my experience in European institutions, I am well aware of the challenges facing the European Union today, and I am determined to work hard to create a Europe that meets the expectations of our citizens,” Mr. Tzitzikostas said. He added that Mr. Mitsotakis’s decision “also recognizes the role and dynamism of Northern Greece and Macedonia, in which you have personally invested with many significant projects in recent years.”

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Apostolos Tzitzikostas will be proposed by Greece as the Commissioner in the European Commission. The official announcement was made earlier today by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, noting that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has already informed the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas is a figure with experience in institutional roles both in Greece and Europe, having been elected President of the European Committee of the Regions in 2020. Simultaneously, the Governor of Central Macedonia is a young individual who has been elected three times with over 50% of the vote, Mr. Marinakis added. “The selection of Mr. Tzitzikostas is a politically significant choice, highlighting the importance of Macedonia and Northern Greece for Europe as a region with strategic position, connectivity, and geopolitical importance for both the Balkans and Southeast Europe, as well as the northeastern edge of the Mediterranean.”

According to current information, the decision to select Mr. Tzitzikostas had been made some time ago and was finalized during his last discussion with Mr. Mitsotakis after the reception for the Restoration of Democracy at the Presidential Mansion. The final details were discussed during the meeting between the two men at the Maximos Mansion, where the green light was given for the announcement.

The battle for the portfolio

The main issue now is the portfolio that the Greek commissioner will assume in Brussels, with the Transport portfolio being mentioned frequently in recent days, though it has not yet been finalized.

Nevertheless, the reference by the government spokesman to the importance of Macedonia and Northern Greece for Europe, as a region with strategic position, connectivity, and geopolitical significance for the Balkans and Southeast Europe, as well as the northeastern edge of the Mediterranean, is interpreted as potentially indicating the responsibilities Greece will take on in the new European Commission. Additionally, Mr. Tzitzikostas’s European experience is emphasized, as he is the first Greek to have been elected to the leadership of a European body, having served as President of the Committee of the Regions.