Global Shipping Alignment on the Green Transition
1 min 23 sec
At a time when maritime transport is being tested by geopolitical tensions, closed sea passages and disruptions in global energy supply chains, Posidonia 2026 highlighted more clearly than ever the role of shipping as a cornerstone of the world economy. Greece, which controls 20% of the global fleet capacity and 61% of the European fleet, stood at the center of international attention, reaffirming its position as the leading maritime power.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, addressing more than 800 prominent figures of the global shipping community, emphasized that Greek shipping is both a national and a European asset, directly linked to Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy. He underlined that Greece plays a pivotal role at a time when the security of sea lanes determines economic stability and the smooth functioning of international trade.
In the same spirit, the President of the Union of Greek Shipowners, Melina Travlou, stressed that freedom of navigation is a fundamental condition for global prosperity. She noted that sea routes are not merely commercial corridors but the arteries of the world economy, and that targeting or undermining shipping endangers the functioning of the entire planet. She also referred to the major challenge of the green transition, pointing out that the decarbonization of shipping depends on technologies, fuels and infrastructure that lie outside the industry’s control, while shipping accounts for just 1.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas highlighted that without ships and ports, there can be no competitive Europe. He reminded that 76% of the EU’s imports and 73% of its exports are transported by sea, while the value of maritime imports alone reaches €1.3 trillion annually. In this context, he presented the EU’s new strategic frameworks for shipping and ports, stressing that Europe must shape global developments rather than simply follow them.
The positions of the three leaders converge on a common conclusion: shipping is a critical pillar of international stability, economic resilience and energy security. In an era of uncertainty, Greece and Europe must safeguard maritime transport, strengthen the competitiveness of the sector and ensure that the green transition remains realistic, technologically feasible and globally coordinated.
Posidonia 2026 confirms that Greek shipping remains the backbone of global trade and one of the most powerful strategic assets for both Greece and Europe.
