PRESS RELEASE

Athens, 24.07.2026

On-site meeting at Kipi Border Crossing on the prolonged truck delays

An on-site meeting was held at the Kipi Border Crossing with the participation of an OFAE delegation and representatives of national road transport associations from the wider region, following the joint letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Greece regarding the critical situation affecting the crossing of heavy goods vehicles from Türkiye into Greece.

The meeting was attended by representatives of OFAE, ANALTIR Albania, Best Mobility North Macedonia, UND Türkiye and BSEC-URTA, as well as the Director of the Kipi Customs Office, Mr Christos Nakos, a representative of the police authorities of the Kipi Border Crossing, the Deputy Regional Governor of Evros, Mr Vangelis Poulilios, and a representative of the office of Mr Stavros Keletsis, Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Evros. Members of Parliament for Evros Mr Christos Dermentzopoulos and Mr Tasos Dimoschakis had also been invited to the meeting but did not attend.

The sector delegation clearly presented the problems faced by transport companies and professional drivers at the Kipi Border Crossing, focusing on prolonged waiting times, the inadequacy of existing infrastructure, the difficult social and working conditions for drivers, and the impact on compliance with the prescribed driving and rest time rules.

Particular emphasis was placed on the fact that, after prolonged waiting times at the border, drivers are often objectively led to infringe driving and rest time rules, resulting in further burdens through the imposition of excessive fines during subsequent checks.

This situation is not only an operational dysfunction, but also a serious issue affecting human working conditions, road safety and drivers’ dignity. The problem becomes even more serious at a time when the road transport sector is already facing an acute shortage of professional drivers. According to recent IRU figures, approximately 502,000 truck driver positions remain unfilled in Europe, corresponding to a shortage rate of around 13%. Under these conditions, every border dysfunction that worsens drivers’ daily working reality makes the profession even less attractive and further intensifies an already structural problem for European supply chains.

During the meeting, it was stressed that the upgrade of Kipi is not merely a matter of local operation of a border crossing, but an issue of strategic importance for international road freight transport, Greece’s connectivity with Türkiye and wider Asia, and the country’s position within international freight corridors between Asia and the European Union. This importance is even greater given that Greece’s emergence as an international transit hub is already a central national strategic objective, based on the utilisation of the country’s geographical position, its modern road network and the potential of Greek ports.

Greece has made significant investments in road networks and port infrastructure. However, when the main border connection point with Türkiye operates as a bottleneck, the value of these investments is weakened. As noted during the meeting, trucks are increasingly avoiding Kipi and choosing alternative routes through Bulgaria, although Greece’s modern road network could make the country a key international transit corridor.

OFAE thanks all those who participated in the meeting and demonstrated practical interest and willingness to cooperate in addressing the problems. Special reference is made to the participation of a representative of the office of Mr Stavros Keletsis, Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Evros, as political presence and monitoring of the issue at local and national level is a critical factor in promoting solutions. At the same time, the absence of the other invited Members of Parliament for Evros highlights the need for the Kipi issue to receive more active and coordinated political attention, commensurate with its seriousness and its impact on the region, the transport sector, the country’s international freight connectivity and, above all, the economic development of the Evros region.

OFAE underlines that road transport operators are expressing strong dissatisfaction with the ongoing situation. If visible progress, meaningful coordination and a clear willingness to cooperate are not demonstrated immediately by the State, the next step will be the escalation of the sector’s actions.

The participating representatives of the competent national authorities were asked to convey the sector’s message of serious concern to higher administrative and governmental levels, so that immediate political and administrative mobilisation can follow.

OFAE will continue to closely monitor the issue and to cooperate with the competent authorities and counterpart associations in the region, with the aim of achieving the immediate decongestion of the Kipi Border Crossing and establishing modern, safe and efficient crossing conditions for international road freight transport