Will there be an increase in the tourist tax in Greece, how could the problem of long queues at our border be solved, will there be heavier penalties for traffic violators in our southern neighbor? The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Bulgaria, His Excellency Alexios Marios Liberopolous, gave answers to these questions in front of Desislava Banova-Plevnelieva.
- Your Excellency, we are in your wonderful residence, thank you for your hospitality! Bulgaria and Greece are good neighbors, strategic partners, trusted allies in the EU and NATO, as well as close friends. Thank you for the opportunity to talk. Many parts of Europe are struggling with over-tourism. Greece is also increasing tourist taxes, and last season Bulgarians set a new record for overnight stays in Greece. What are the problems and opportunities?
- Thank you for the opportunity to talk about topics related to the bilateral relations between Greece and Bulgaria. We are neighbors and should be as close as possible.
- Let's not forget that these days, on September 27, we celebrated World Tourism Day, so your question is timely.
- Indeed, overtourism affects not only Greece, but also Spain and other countries, and it is a problem. But it is good to have tourist exchange because it also leads to cultural exchange. The point is that measures must be taken, especially when it is difficult to deal with crowds. There is a bill that the Prime Minister is talking about for an additional tax, but it is only for cruises and for real overcrowded places like Santorini and Mykonos. Cruises and people who would like to visit these islands may have to pay an additional tax. But other taxes remain unchanged. True, the types of taxes are different, but there is no increase in the taxes themselves, apart from the mentioned exceptions. If I remember the data from the Bulgarian NSI correctly, for the period from 2022 to 2023 there was a 46% increase among Bulgarians who visited Greece. This means that over 1,871,000 Bulgarians have crossed the borders with Greece for vacation in 2023. We are observing a significant growth. Of course, there are many more traveling from Greece to Bulgaria – from nearly 880,000 Greeks who traveled in 2022, there are over 1,109,000 in 2023, so this is only positive and helps cultural exchange. It is positive for both nations.
- In this regard, we have problems at the border points – stories of long queues at the border with Greece have dominated the news lately. How can the problem be solved?
- I have discussed the problem with the two authorities – both in my country and in Bulgaria. This is a complicated matter until Bulgaria enters Schengen by land. However, measures have been taken, such as the "Tower-Promahonas" single point, to make it easier and a bit faster, especially in July and August when the queues are long and more people are traveling to and from Greece. There is more to do of course. We try to increase our staff during the Easter holidays and the months of June to September so that it is a little faster and easier. Of course, when incidents occur like the one from Hanioti, Halkidiki a month ago, where in an establishment – Bulgarian property – two groups of Bulgarians fought and shots were fired – this is not good for the image and does not help to reduce border checks. But in general, we are doing our best to ease it until Schengen offers us the solution.
- I know that the Greek state is planning to impose heavier penalties on traffic offenders. Could you tell us more?
- There is a draft law almost ready to be tabled in parliament. It will impose much stricter penalties for offenders. It's true, we have a lot of road accidents – over 600 in 2023 if I remember correctly. The deaths are unthinkable – people lose their lives on the road, on the street. We need to do something aggravating so that people realize that it is very important to wear a helmet when on a motorcycle, that it is important not to run a red light. It is so important so that people do not die for no reason.
- After "Gazprom" stopped gas supplies to Bulgaria, Greece became an indispensable partner for gas transmission and supplies. What are the prospects for bilateral energy cooperation?
- There is full-scale cooperation between the two countries, even before 2022, but the invasion of Ukraine made our cooperation faster and more effective. We responded immediately when you ran out of gas in April 2022 and provided LNG from the "Revitusa" terminal. in Athens to ensure the coming winter – in 2022. Since then we have the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector – a starting point. We have a number of MoUs between the two countries for gas storage, for building a new oil pipeline, for improving connectivity in green energy. In the field of electricity, there is an initiative from Prime Minister Mitsotakis to the EC, together with Bulgaria and Romania. I think the letter has already been drafted and signed by the three ministries of energy, to find a better mechanism to make electricity prices in the region better and fairer. There is a big difference in electricity prices in the region and the western and northern countries of the EU.
- Greek companies create tens of thousands of jobs in Bulgaria. Are Greek investors satisfied and what are their development plans?
- By the end of 2022, if I am not mistaken, Greek direct foreign investments in Bulgaria reached 3 billion euros, now they are 3 and a half, so the trend is upward. The two major problems facing Greek investors are the lack of specialized staff – it's a big problem – and the other is the slow judicial system. There are big delays there. If there is any problem, it should be solved quickly. We are talking about business and big investments after all, so it should be more efficient for both parties – both for the investor and for the country in which the investment is made.
- The last four years in Bulgaria have been marked by a severe political crisis and some Bulgarian politicians point to the Greek system as a possible way out. What do you think?
- It could be done. We see from real life that for the last three years we will have, excuse me, I say “we“, I just feel Bulgarian, the seventh election in a row in October. It is a pity for the country because it cannot plan ahead. You can't even have a medium-term plan to get the projects moving. It's a problem and it's a shame for the country because it's missing out on a lot of opportunities and funds, unfortunately. On the other hand, a system that could have a bonus for the first party in the election, or something similar, would make it easier to form a government so that there is a stable medium-long-term government that does not change every three to six months .
- Greece is officially the second poorest country in the EU after Bulgaria. How can we improve people's well-being?
- That's not quite right, maybe you're talking about purchasing power – that's what it's about. The truth is that the Greek economy has so far proven to be resilient to the crises and geopolitical tensions that are unfortunately developing in our region. The country expected economic growth above the Eurozone average in 2024, as it did for 2023. It has real GDP growth of 2%, much less unemployment and the National Bank of Greece's forecast for 2025 appears to be 2.2% growth and 2.5% growth for 2026. The data is positive, investments, some of which are in real estate, are increasing – I mean foreign direct investment in Greece. Inflation is expected to fall to 3% by the end of 2024, i.e. within the criteria, and unemployment is expected to fall by 10%. Let me remind you that in the years of crisis we had about 25%, so the efforts are there and we are doing better and better. In terms of growth, we are above the EU average.
- Europe is going through a severe migration crisis and is paying a high political and social price. How is Greece doing and what is the pan-European solution?
- We seem to be doing better than before. The land borders are well protected. For sea urchins, it is not so easy – we have many islands. Of course we also have Frontex helping. As you know, Bulgaria also helps within the framework of Frontex to protect our sea borders. But it is a difficult problem and, unfortunately, despite the lower flow to or through Greece than before, it is in danger of increasing, given the number of wars around. Maybe we need a new approach at the European level because it is very serious. Wars and climate change are two of the many determinants of migration growth.
- You have been in Bulgaria since January last year. What are your impressions of our country and what is your favorite place in Bulgaria?
- The country is beautiful, especially the mountains. My family and I have traveled around Bulgaria, but not as much as we would like. Outside of Sofia, I have visited Plovdiv, Sliven, Sozopol, Nessebar, Burgas, Pomorie, the Black Sea coast, Varna, of course, but we want to travel much more. There are so many places we haven't visited yet, and our friends tell us and describe their trips there. We want to go to Pamporovo, so many other places. Koprivshtitsa, which is not far from here, my name is very complicated and I keep forgetting it, but I know where it is and we will go – this is our next plan.
- You have an impressive professional career, and on a personal level you have, as you mentioned, a wife, a daughter. Which is more difficult for you – international or family diplomacy?
- And a dog that is also female!
- And a female dog?
- Family diplomacy is definitely more difficult because it is charged with much more feelings. I like my job, my professional life, and I love my family, but I am more sentimental, and when my ten-year-old daughter comes to me with innocent, unrepeatable arguments, it is very difficult to play diplomacy with her. It is definitely much more difficult in this field.
- And who is in charge in your family?
- You mean after my daughter? I think she's the boss.
- Your Excellency, what is the greatest miracle in your life?
- My family and of course my daughter. She is part of the family, but I have to give her a special mention. He's still 10 so no puberty issues yet. It's a real miracle.
- Believe me, it's hard, my daughter is 13 and it takes steady nerves!
I'm very well, he's always smiling, so I don't need to clench my teeth, but it's really a big miracle.
- Your Excellency, it was an honor and a privilege to talk to you, thank you!
- Thank you, it was an honor and a privilege for me too! Let me end with gratitude, because it looks like Greek scientists will also visit Antarctica for the first time…
- Yes, and they will remain in the Bulgarian base...
- And they will stay in the Bulgarian base and travel on the ship "St. St. Cyril and Methodius". Thanks!
- Absolutely, we are good neighbors and we should help each other!
- It is a pleasure for us to cooperate. It's not just a task, it's a necessity, and it's satisfying when it's accomplished.