Gkikas: 'We are reducing times' in Transport Equivalent

Stefanos Gkikas, Deputy Minister for Shipping and Island Policy, discussed the Transport Equivalent on ERT news’s “Deca me tono” programme, arguing that the situation with payments to islanders has improved significantly in recent times. As he stated, 45 million euros were paid for the full settlement of 2025 debts, an amount returned to islanders for their fares, both maritime and air, under the Transport Equivalent scheme, which covers part of the travel costs for island residents to and from the mainland, a matter that has long concerned residents of smaller and more remote islands.

Mr Gkikas explained that delays previously recorded were linked to necessary checks to ensure proper use of public funds, checks that according to him had to be completed before payments to beneficiaries could proceed. According to the Deputy Minister, the system for applications from businesses concerning 2023 was closed in order to proceed with the relevant payments, after which it will open for applications concerning 2024, with the aim of gradually reducing processing times for the mechanism and providing faster service to both businesses and islanders awaiting reimbursement for previous years’ fares.

The Deputy Minister also made particular reference to the condition of the Greek coastal shipping fleet, citing a study conducted on ministry initiative and funded by the Recovery Fund. As he stated, the fleet currently comprises more than 330 vessels, with average age approaching 30 years, while 18%-19% of vessels are over 40 years old, a figure highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the country in maintaining island shipping connections in the coming years. “It is aging, the average age is around 30 years,” Mr Gkikas said characteristically of the Greek coastal shipping fleet.

According to the Deputy Minister, the study does not limit itself to recording the current condition of the fleet but also examines in parallel the financing methods for its renewal in the coming years, a matter considered critical for maintaining island shipping connections over time. Mr Gkikas stated that this initiative is moving in the right direction, with more and more specific details for fleet renewal planning expected in the near future, according to what he said on the ERT news programme, although without specifying a particular timeline or funding amount for this initiative.