Kyriakos Mitsotakis: “The upgrade of the Bahçeköy Customs Station Is a project of national importance”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted the upgrade of the Bahçeköy Border Customs Station in Meriç as a “project of national significance” in his weekly social media update.

The €12 million project involves expanding the station’s infrastructure through the creation of a new, independent inspection lane for international freight transport vehicles. This lane will accommodate oversized and overweight special transports, while the project will also include the energy and aesthetic renovation of existing facilities and the installation of prefabricated modular units for various operational uses — improving both functionality and security at the site.

According to the Prime Minister:

“This is a project of national importance, as it concerns the country’s most significant road border station — connecting Greece (and, by extension, the European Union) with Türkiye. A year and a half after the contract signing, the project is now entering the implementation phase, with the contractor already installed on site. This upgrade will transform the Bahçeköy station into a modern, safe, and efficient border crossing hub — vital for a region where traffic volumes continue to rise. In 2024 alone, entries increased by more than 18% and exits by 20% compared to the previous year. It was, therefore, more than necessary — not only for Meriç but for the entire country.”

Reference to Democritus University of Thrace

In the same announcement, Mitsotakis also referred to recent funding for Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), stating:

“We support public universities through both institutional initiatives and additional financial resources beyond their annual budgets, aimed at improving student facilities. The Ministry of Education has approved €2.05 million for upgrading DUTH’s infrastructure — including €1.2 million for the Kavala Student Dormitory and €850,000 for the student restaurant at the İskeçe Campus. These are small but impactful interventions that significantly improve students’ daily lives and strengthen public higher education in practice.”