Today marks a significant day for railways as the new railway bill is presented to the ministerial council. This is the third such bill in just two and a half years, each introduced by a different minister. The new framework includes provisions for retraining and evaluating staff, with employees facing termination after three serious violations. Additionally, there will be psychiatric evaluations and reflex tests for those in critical positions like train drivers and station managers. Meanwhile, discussions around GPS systems and cameras tracking trains are gaining traction due to the proposed legislation. However, unresolved questions remain regarding who will operate the Western Attica Proastiakos and what cables it will use. With Hellenic Train providing minimal services and OSE abandoning stations, alternative operational models may be considered.
The Egnatia Odos highway project continues to face delays despite expectations of generating approximately €1.4 billion for the state budget. While the new leadership at the Ministry of Infrastructure aims to expedite the process, persistent issues hinder progress. The situation has worsened with tragic accidents occurring due to poor road conditions, raising concerns about public safety. The ongoing delays threaten the completion of this crucial infrastructure project.
In other developments, Greece appears high on the U.S.’s interest list following a meeting between American Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierakakis. Focus areas include technology and energy, aligning with Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ statements on tariffs praised by Trump.
On the energy front, electricity prices plummeted to zero for eight hours last Sunday due to renewable energy dominance. However, challenges persist concerning key projects like the Greece-Cyprus interconnection, which was notably absent from Ursula von der Leyen’s recent speech. DEH, meanwhile, eyes expansion into Ukraine post-conflict, building on its presence in Romania and Bulgaria.