One of the main goals set by New Democracy for its second term in government is the so-called “double convergence”: rapid convergence of Greece with Europe across all individual indicators and regional convergence. As Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated about a year ago: “By now utilizing European and national resources more effectively, we continue working toward double convergence—dramatically reducing our distance from Europe while also reducing regional inequalities.”
With only 17 months remaining until the elections, it has become imperative for the Maximos Mansion to accelerate and complete before the ballot box a series of small and large infrastructure projects across all regions.
Government: 60 regional projects funded with €7 billion before elections
Moreover, the climate in recent weeks in the provinces has deteriorated, mainly for two reasons: First is the closure of dozens of Hellenic Post offices, which may have been temporarily “frozen” but will proceed gradually according to the original plan. Second are the major problems facing farmers and livestock breeders due to sheep and goat pox and delays in subsidy and support payments from the dysfunctions caused by OPEKEPE’s transition to AADE. The government believes these problems will be addressed and these fronts will be closed, while infrastructure projects needed by local communities will be implemented in the regions. With funding reaching €7 billion, a total of 60 major projects are advancing in the country’s 12 regions (Attica is not included in this plan), with the ambition to have them completed or at least nearly finished by the end of spring 2027. In fact, the Prime Minister has already requested that this issue be put on the agenda for the first Cabinet meeting of 2026, and he intends to ask each minister to keep local issues within their jurisdiction on their “radar” and resolve pending matters in each area.
All the above fall under the National Strategy for Regional and Local Development, which was presented last Wednesday in a closed meeting at Maximos Mansion (KYSOIP) by Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Thanasis Kontogeorgis. The main pillar of the National Strategy, overseen by Kostis Hatzidakis, is—according to the relevant briefing—the immediate resolution of issues concerning the Greek periphery and the formation of a national program across the entire country for the coming years, in cooperation with local communities, so that national and EU resources are strategically directed in the most optimal and efficient way to the Greek regions.
Specifically, the 60 projects under the National Strategy for Local and Regional Development that the government aims to complete by mid-2027 are as follows:
EASTERN MACEDONIA & THRACE
- Construction of Eastern Ring Road of Alexandroupoli €36 million
- Port of Alexandroupoli infrastructure upgrade €24 million
- New General Hospital of Komotini | Stavros Niarchos Foundation donation
- 5 km extension of Evros fence €15 million
- Kipoi Evros Border Station €13 million
CENTRAL MACEDONIA
- Upgrade of Eastern Inner Ring Road of Thessaloniki (flyover) €463 million
- Thessaloniki Metro extension to Kalamaria €425 million
- 6th pier of Thessaloniki Port – Port infrastructure extension (investment program) €130-180 million
- Design, construction, financing, maintenance and operation of 17 school units in Central Macedonia Region €159 million
- New Mesimvria – Evzoni/Gevgelija pipeline and Metering Station €92 million
WESTERN MACEDONIA
- Construction of Trikala – Egnatia section of Central Greece E65 highway €480 million
- Just Transition area development actions (land restoration and transfer) €136 million
- High Efficiency Cogeneration Unit (CCHP) with Natural Gas Internal Combustion Engines ≥ 65 Megawatts thermal €81 million
- Construction of Kastoria – Ptolemaida Provincial Road, Axis: Kotouri stream section – Kozani prefecture borders with tunnel at Kleisoura €71 million
- Triantafyllia Dam Irrigation networks €41.5 million
EPIRUS
- Completion of Ioannina City Great Ring (Panhellenic Stadium Junction – Vogianos Junction) €24.8 million
- Nikopolis bypass – transport projects for Nikopolis archaeological site enhancement €15.64 million
- Road lighting upgrade on National and Provincial Network of Epirus Region €9.7 million
- University General Hospital of Ioannina – ICU expansion €4.5 million
- University of Ioannina – Student housing and student club improvement and modernization €3 million
THESSALY
- Restoration of Larissa – Volos single railway line, sections: i) Larissa Station exit – Latomio Station, ii) Latomio Station – Volos Station entrance, iii) two positions at Volos Station €146.5 million
- Restoration of Athens – Thessaloniki double railway line, from Domokos Station exit to Krannon Station entrance €140 million
- Electrification, signaling, remote control, telecommunications and ETCS L1 on existing Larissa – Volos single railway line with railway upgrade in Latomio Station – Industrial Area – Volos Station section €82.89 million
- Installation of electrification, signaling – remote control and ETCS L1 on existing Palaiofarsalos – Kalampaka railway line €72.8 million
- Waste Treatment Unit and CHSR extension in Larissa P.E. €67.73 million
NORTH AEGEAN
- Connection of NE Aegean Islands with mainland system (includes only projects concerning Lesvos/Lemnos) €568.6 million
- Expansion-improvement of maneuvering field and related works at Chios “Homer” Airport €23 million
- Pythagoreio – Chora Samos road bypass €18 million
- Expansion and modernization of Chios Archaeological Museum €17 million
- Biological treatment of southern Mytilene city €15 million
Thessaloniki metro extension, Construction of Trikala-Egnatia section
IONIAN ISLANDS
- System reinforcement works for Corfu supply €75 million
- Vonitsa – Lefkada Road Axis €48.1 million
- Integrated Waste Management Installation Zakynthos €15 million
- Vasiliki Lefkada tourist boat anchorage €13 million
- Zakynthos Shipwreck restoration €8 million
CENTRAL GREECE
- Development of Lamia national exhibition area €51 million
- Construction of sewage networks in Plaka Dilesi and Dilesi settlements and expansion/upgrade of Schimatari – Oinofyta Biological Treatment Plant €37 million
- Amphissa Olive Grove irrigation project €37 million
- Rockfall protection on Arachova – Delphi National Road section in Delphi Archaeological Site area €22 million
- Restoration works in Domokos Railway Station area due to “Daniel” storm damage €22 million
WESTERN GREECE
- Completion of new double railway line in Rododafni – Arachositika section €100 million
- Construction of waste treatment unit & bio-waste treatment unit within CHSR 2nd D.E. (Agrinio) and six-month trial operation €78.35 million
- Installation of electrification system and anti-noise sound barriers on Kiato – Rododafni section €73.7 million
- Construction of Waste Treatment Unit & Bio-waste Treatment Unit at Floka site in Western Achaia Municipality €55.1 million
- Construction and upgrade of Lefkada city road connection with Aktio – Western Axis road and construction of new Lefkada water supply pipeline €49 million
PELOPONNESE
- Corinth Substation and second connection of Megalopolis Substation to 400kV system €145.41 million
- Flood protection for areas upstream and downstream of Tsakona – Kalamata Highway and Kalamata ring road (concession) €79 million
- Construction of Asopos Dam in Corinth Prefecture €54.6 million
- Irrigation water transport and distribution works from Anavalo networks in Ermionida Municipality €53 million
- Rizomylos – Koroni Provincial Road €43 million
SOUTH AEGEAN
- 4th Phase Cyclades Connection (Southern and Western) €523 million
- Expansion and improvement of Naxos State Airport maneuvering field €22 million
- Restoration and reopening of Rhodes National Theatre €17.24 million
- Construction of Schoina dam and transport pipeline on Karpathos island €16.7 million
- Rhodes Tourist Port (Marina) upgrade €10 million
CRETE
- New Heraklion International Airport (Kastelli) €521.84 million
- Conversion to highway of BOAK, section: Neapolis – Agios Nikolaos €186 million
- Chochlakion Reservoir in Lasithi Prefecture and accompanying works, Ag. Ioannis Ierapetra dam and basic irrigation water utilization works €87.9 million
- The project includes two phases: first to be delivered July 2026, total completion 2029. Construction of Waste Treatment and Recovery Unit and Heraklion CHSR €50 million
- Waste Treatment Unit and Controlled Landfill Site Residues in Sitia €26 million
NE Aegean islands connection with mainland system, Asopos Dam construction
Published in Parapolitika
