Mitsotakis Requests Modern Trains from Hellenic Train and Discusses Defense Cooperation with Meloni

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is in Rome today for a meeting with Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni. The agenda includes renegotiations sought by Greece regarding the government’s partnership with the parent company of Hellenic Train, involving Italian public funds, for new trains in Greece financed by their capital. Preparatory actions were taken last Thursday by Deputy Transport Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis, his Italian counterpart Matteo Salvini, and the management of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane. In response to Kyranakis, Rome confirmed that investments in the Greek railway will continue. The Greek government demands modern train fleets, staff training, service improvements, and adherence to new cooperation frameworks. Additionally, discussions include the establishment of a Preliminary Investigation Committee for former transport ministers Kostas Karamanlis (ND) and Christos Spiridis (SYRIZA). On defense matters, Mitsotakis and Meloni will address European challenges such as migration, competitiveness, and EU security. Focus will be on the collaboration between Rome and Ankara for drone production, emphasizing that any cooperation should align with EU strategic autonomy principles.