Τhe European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, on Friday toured the ONEX shipbuilding unit at the Elefsina industrial zone, due west of Piraeus, which recently resumed operation after a high-profile privatization.
Breton met with the CEO of ONEX Panos Xenokostas, who in public comments, stressed the need for a liberalization of EU laws and regulations in order to allow shipyards in member-states to operate against unfair competition by units in third countries.
ONEX, which also operates a smaller shipyard on the Cyclades island of Syros, have recently acquired dry docks able to accommodate Panamax- and Aframax-sized vessels.
According Xenokostas, an investment and upgrading program for the shipyards is valued at more than 250 million euros over the next five years. The plan will also include the adoption of “green technology” and implementing RES infrastructure.
