The important role of maritime transportation to Europe’s prosperity was stretched once again by the Greek Presidency with the adoption of the “Athens Declaration” that defines the policy priorities for European Shipping designed to support and sustain European shipping sector. 

The Declaration was announced at the Informal Maritime Ministerial Meeting of the EU and EEA Countries, held in Athens, within the context of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU, under the Chairmanship of the Greek Minister of Shipping Maritime Affairs & the Aegean Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. The meeting was attended by the Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Transport, Siim Kallas, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Koji Sekimizu, and high officials of the EU and EEA countries, in charge of maritime transport issues.