The Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, paid an official visit to Slovenia, where he visited the capital Ljubljana and later traveled to the neighboring city of Trieste in Italy.
The Commissioner’s visit began in Ljubljana, where he met with Slovenia’s Minister of Infrastructure, Alenka Bratu?ek, who was the first female Prime Minister of the country, as well as the Ministers of Defense, Borut Sahivic, and of Economy and Tourism, Matja? Han. They held a meeting on infrastructure, transport, and tourism issues. Mr. Tzitzikostas discussed the new strategies being developed by the EU for these sectors and emphasized the importance of the role of member states in implementing the measures and provisions of each plan, as well as Slovenia’s issues related to his portfolio.
Additionally, the Commissioner, accompanied by the Minister of Infrastructure, met with the Mayor of Ljubljana, Zoran Jankovi?, at the City Hall, where they traveled using the innovative electric vehicle Kavalir. They then visited the modernized Ljubljana railway station, where they observed the progress of the station’s upgrade, which is being financed with European funds and will connect Ljubljana with Central Europe.
The Commissioner then visited the Diva?a area, where, along with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, they inaugurated the first completed sections of the Diva?a–Koper railway line, funded by European resources. This line is part of the main European transport corridors crossing Slovenia. The project is considered emblematic, and it is expected to be completed by September 2026. Mr. Tzitzikostas also handed over a check for 156.1 million euros to Mr. Golob as part of the European funding for the project.
In his speech, Mr. Tzitzikostas congratulated Slovenia on the progress made with this railway project and the speed of its construction, despite the challenging terrain in the areas the line crosses. He highlighted the importance of the project for all of Europe.
Among other points, the Commissioner emphasized that “this is a crucial project for creating an efficient, modern European railway network. It is also a project that aligns with our vision to develop new commercial routes across the entire Mediterranean and Central Europe. Most importantly, the project will bring significant benefits to European citizens, as train passengers will be able to travel with greater safety, comfort, and speed. Furthermore, this investment will help reduce the environmental footprint of transport, and by enhancing military mobility, it will also contribute to maintaining Europe’s security. We are investing in a stronger, better-connected, and more resilient Europe.”
The Commissioner also visited three other EU-funded projects in the Ljubljana port area. At the port of Koper, Mr. Tzitzikostas held a working meeting with the port’s board of directors.
Following this, the Commissioner traveled to Trieste, at the Italy–Slovenia border, where he visited local shipyards that house the largest shipbuilding company in Europe and the fourth-largest shipbuilding group in the world, Fincantieri.
He had a working meeting with the company’s leaders, where they discussed issues of development and strengthening the competitiveness of European shipyards worldwide, innovation, and the reduction of carbon emissions from shipbuilding activities, ports, and shipping in general.
Among other points, Mr. Tzitzikostas discussed the strategic importance of the shipbuilding industry, not just for Italy, but for all of Europe, in terms of security, strategic autonomy, and prosperity. “The shipbuilding industry is vital for our economic security and our defense and military mobility. It is a cornerstone of regional economic development and employment, and it is crucial for us to remain at the forefront of the clean and digital transition in the global technological competition. This is also the framework for the new European strategy for the maritime industry that we are currently preparing,” he said. The Commissioner was also given a tour of the shipyard and visited a ship under construction.
In Trieste, Mr. Tzitzikostas also met with the President of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, Massimiliano Fedriga, where they had a working meeting on regional development and transport infrastructure, focusing on air and port infrastructure in the region, as well as tourism issues. This was followed by a meeting with the Mayor of Trieste, Roberto Dipiazza, and local government officials.
Next, the Commissioner visited the port of Trieste, where the port officials briefed him on the operations of the Trieste and Monfalcone ports. Mr. Tzitzikostas then took a boat tour of the entire port area, which is a key hub connecting the Mediterranean with Central and Eastern Europe through its extensive rail and intermodal connections. Mr. Tzitzikostas also discussed the new EU integrated strategy for ports, with a focus on enhancing their competitiveness. He announced that this strategy would be presented at the beginning of 2026.
