The Greek Deputy Prime Minister, Kostis Hatzidakis, spoke at the Greece Talks conference about ongoing discussions with ferry companies regarding potential interventions in ferry ticket prices due to the rise in fuel costs. He emphasized that they would observe how the situation evolves, including decisions made at the European level, before implementing changes. The government aims to work within available parameters for broader discussions on price adjustments.

Hatzidakis highlighted past measures taken to mitigate ticket price increases, such as a 50% reduction in port fees last year, which helped maintain ticket prices and even led to some reductions. Additionally, he noted that the Value Added Tax (VAT) for both ferry and air transport had been reduced to 13% since the COVID-19 pandemic, further contributing to price stability in the travel sector.

Moreover, Hatzidakis mentioned that there are significant initiatives underway with EU funding from various climate-related funds aimed at making the ferry fleet more environmentally friendly. These initiatives include transitioning to greener technologies and practices in the shipping industry, which could impact operational costs and pricing strategies in the long term, fostering a more sustainable approach within the maritime transport sector.