Mitsotakis from Rodopi: Our geopolitical position is upgraded — Greece becomes an international energy hub
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the DESFA facilities at the Industrial Area (VIPE) of Komotini on Tuesday afternoon, as part of his tour in the region of Rodopi
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Early Tuesday afternoon, Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the facilities of the DESFA Natural Gas Compression Station in the Komotini Industrial Area, as part of his tour in Rodopi.
In his statements, the Prime Minister emphasized, among other things, that:
“Greece, and Thrace in particular, is transforming into an international energy hub. Our country has practically demonstrated that it can exercise very effective energy diplomacy — always to the benefit of our national interests.”
He added that:
“The presence of such a large American delegation in our country last week highlighted precisely the key importance of Greece as the starting point of the Vertical Corridor — that is, the ability to supply gas from Greece in various forms, including LNG coming from the United States, so that we can provide energy to countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary.”
Mitsotakis underlined:
“You can therefore understand how significantly these important investments by DESFA upgrade Greece’s geopolitical position. I look forward to even more national successes on the front of energy diplomacy.”
He was given a tour of the Compression Station by DESFA’s CEO, Maria Rita Galli, and was accompanied by Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Thanasis Kontogeorgis, Deputy Interior Minister (Macedonia & Thrace) Kostas Gioulekas, MP Evripidis Stylianidis, ND Political Committee Secretary Kostas Skrekas, and the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Christodoulos Topsidis.
Statement by the Prime Minister
“The Compression Station, which came into operation just a few days ago, significantly increases our supply capacity — not only for the domestic system, but mainly for exporting more natural gas to our northern neighbors. Greece and Thrace are becoming an international energy hub. Our country has proven in practice that it can conduct energy diplomacy effectively, always serving national interests.
The presence of the large American delegation last week demonstrated the key role of Greece as the starting point of the Vertical Corridor — the ability to supply gas, including LNG from the U.S., to countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary. These major investments by DESFA constitute a crucial upgrade to Greece’s geopolitical standing, and I look forward to more national achievements in energy diplomacy.”
Announcements for Farmers
Earlier, in Maroneia, Mitsotakis announced a 50% increase in the upper limit of oil eligible for excise duty refunds to farmers, saying:
“We are in constant consultation on how to support the primary sector.”
He also discussed issues with local fishermen and coast guard officers, mentioning incidents involving Turkish fishing boats and new pay scales for uniformed personnel.
Broader Development Initiatives
The Prime Minister noted that measures aim to boost real household income and strengthen regional development, highlighting:
The 50% ENFIA property tax reduction by 2026 and full exemption by 2027 for primary residences in small settlements.
Special provisions for border regions, such as Evros, Western Macedonia, and Epirus.
He stressed:
“It’s not enough for the economy to perform well in macro indicators — every citizen must feel this growth, wherever they live. That can only happen if we address local challenges and harness regional opportunities.”
Tourism and Infrastructure
Mitsotakis also referred to plans to develop the coastal front of Rodopi by building a marina in Maroneia–Sapes Municipality and connecting it to the coastal road of Evros.
“This project will be a key driver of tourism and local development,” he said.
During his visit, he toured the restored Tavaniotis Mansion, which now hosts an exhibition on ancient Maroneia and Ismaros. It is expected to receive full museum certification by the end of 2026.
