The Greek Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr. Margaritis Schinas, visited Chalki island on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, conducting a series of meetings and visits that highlighted the development prospects of small islands, the importance of strengthening insularity, and the role that innovation, sustainability, and the primary sector in shaping a new productive model for island Greece.
During his visit to the island, the Minister toured the new floating dock in Chalki, a project funded through the LEADER program of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. The new facility can accommodate up to twenty vessels and is equipped with water, electricity, and internet services, contributing significantly to the upgrading of port services and the further development of maritime tourism.
This was followed by a working meeting with the Mayor of Chalki, Mr. Evangelos Fragkakis, in the presence of the Secretary General for Rural Development and Food, Mr. Spyros Protopsaltis, and the Deputy Regional Governor for the Primary Sector of the Dodecanese islands, Mr. Filimon Zannetidis.
During the meeting, the Mayor emphasized to Mr. Schinas the vital importance for small communities across our country of continuing the LEADER program.
The discussion also covered the opportunities and challenges facing the primary sector on the smaller islands, policies to support local producers, the need to maintain productive activity in the Greek regions, and the potential for utilising financial instruments to strengthen the local economy and create new development prospects.
Particular mention was made of the GR-Eco Island initiative, through which Halki has become an international benchmark for green and digital transition. The actions implemented in the fields of energy, sustainable mobility, natural resource management and the circular economy were presented, whilst the potential for utilising the island’s experience as a model for implementing similar policies in other island regions of the country was discussed.
It was also emphasised that the success of the project was based on the close and long-standing cooperation between the Municipality of Chalki, the Region of South Aegean and the Regional Governor, Mr George Hatzimarkos, who actively supported the island’s green and sustainable development initiatives. This joint endeavour has demonstrated that cooperation between first- and second-tier local authorities can act as a catalyst for the implementation of innovative projects with a significant environmental, social and developmental impact, establishing Chalki as a benchmark for the sustainable development of small islands at national and European level.
The Mayor of Chalki, Mr Evangelos Fragkakis, thanked the Minister, the Secretary-General, Mr Spyros Protopsaltis, and the Deputy Regional Governor of the South Aegean, Mr Filimon Zannetidis for their visit to the island and emphasised that the presence of the political leadership of the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food on Chalki island constitutes significant recognition of both the needs and the potential of small island communities.
“Chalki demonstrates every day that even the smallest islands can play a leading role in the green transition, innovation and sustainable development. Through collaboration, planning and perseverance, we can create equal opportunities for the residents of remote islands and foster conditions for progress and prosperity for future generations”, stated the Mayor of Chalki.
The Minister’s visit to Chalki, the first official visit by a senior official from the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food to the island, confirms the government’s growing interest in the needs, challenges and development prospects of the country’s small island communities.