Growth Conference in Komotini concludes with low attendance

Organized by Hronos and Peloponnisos newspapers along with the Regional Policy Observatory and with contributions from Thrace’s Democritus University, the conference saw multiple sessions discussing the region’s development challenges. Despite the wide array of topics and speakers, the event saw minimal participation, with the venue remaining largely empty throughout the two days.

The closing session focused on the geostrategic and geopolitical significance of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, moderated by Konstantinos Filis. The speakers addressed key issues such as Israel’s attacks in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the impact of the U.S. military presence at the Alexandroupolis port.

New Democracy MP and former Minister Evripidis Stylianidis spoke about the region’s rising geostrategic importance due to recent global energy strategies. He emphasized that the energy projects involving Alexandroupolis, including pipelines like TAP and IGB, have positioned the region as a critical player in Europe’s energy security.

SYRIZA MP and former Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis highlighted the critical geopolitical position of the region in light of the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. He reiterated the strategic significance of Alexandroupolis in NATO’s operations.

The event aimed to provide insights into how the region could better position itself on the international stage, but the low attendance raised questions about the engagement of local and regional stakeholders in these critical discussions.

The speakers concluded by calling for a cohesive strategy that aligns local development plans with national and European frameworks, stressing the need for sustainable investments in the region.