The European Commission greenlighted Greece’s plan to grant €47.3 million of public support for the construction of a new quay in the port of Igoumenitsa, on the north-west coast of Greece.
The project aims to decrease congestion, harmful emissions and the risk of accidents by relocating the port’s international activities to a new quay situated out of the city of Igoumenitsa.
The Commission assessed the proposal based on the EU State Aid Rules and found that the public support was proportionate and necessary for the implementation of the investment.
Moreover, the Commission considered that given that Igoumenitsa is a small European port with limited transport volumes, it is included in the trans-European transport network (TEN-T).
The Commission concluded that the public support is in line with EU State aid rules, as it will further the construction of EU priority transport infrastructure and reduce safety risks for passengers without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market.
The port of Igoumenitsa is geographically the closest Greek port to Italy and the Balkan countries. Annually, 2,5 million passengers and about 250,000 trucks are moving from the port.
