From recovery to transformation: infrastructure investment in Greece and Cyprus
Speakers
The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) has channelled unprecedented levels of investment into infrastructure across Europe. As this landmark programme draws to a close, what legacy will it leave for Greece and Cyprus? Have these investments succeeded in modernising transport systems, improving connectivity and supporting broader economic transformation? And what further investments will be needed to meet the demands of the future?
Although Greece and Cyprus face distinct circumstances, both confront similar challenges in strengthening transport networks, enhancing connectivity and supporting sustainable growth. To what extent has the RRF contributed to addressing these challenges? And is the current infrastructure stock, together with ongoing public investment plans, sufficient to support the next phase of economic development in the two countries?
Bringing together the Ministers responsible for Transport and Infrastructure in Greece and Cyprus, as well as leading experts in infrastructure finance and development, this event will assess the impact of the RRF and examine the next generation of transport and connectivity investments in the region.
Meet our speakers and chair
Christos Dimas is the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, Hellenic Republic. He is a lawyer and a member of the Hellenic Parliament with Nea Demokratia, representing the district of Corinthia. He studied law in Athens (National and Kapodistrian University) and London (Queen Mary University). He has a Master's degree in comparative politics and a PhD in European politics. In London he worked as correspondent for the newspaper “Apogevmatini” and as a journalist intern at BBC. Before entering politics, he worked in the private sector as a business consultant for "The Boston Consulting Group (BCG)", a strategic consulting firm. He was elected Member of Hellenic Parliament for Corinthia with New Democracy in the May and June 2012 elections and has been continuously elected since then. He served as deputy minister of Development and Investments, responsible for research & innovation (July 2019-May 2023), deputy minister of Culture (June 2023-June 2024) and deputy minister of Economy and Finance (June2024-March 2025). He is the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport since March 2025.
Dimitris Sourvanos is Principal Political Counsellor in the Policy, Strategy and Delivery Department at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and a Visiting Fellow at LSE’s Hellenic Observatory Centre. His current research examines the deployment of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and its political economy outcomes for Greece, within the broader context of the country’s recovery and transformation since the crisis. His wider work has focused on political and policy analysis, economic governance and development strategy across Central and Southeast Europe.
Evie Tsolaki is the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus. She is a lawyer with extensive professional experience and a longstanding involvement in public life, particularly in local government and on the boards of public and professional bodies.She served as a Limassol Municipal Councillor for three consecutive terms, from 2002 to 2016. During her tenure, she served on various municipal committees, including the Development Committee, the Traffic and Transport Committee and the Tenders Committee, while also serving as Chair of the Social Welfare Committee.She also served as a member of the Board of the Sewerage Board of Limassol–Amathus from 2002 to 2016 and as a member of the Council of the Limassol Bar Association from 2005 to 2008. From 2019 until assuming office as Minister, she was a member of the Board of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. She holds a degree in Law from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Open University of Cyprus. Prior to her appointment, she practised as a lawyer.
Chair:
Vassilis Monastiritiotis is Director of the LSE Centre for Research on Contemporary Greece and Cyprus - Hellenic Observatory, Eleftherios Venizelos Chair of Contemporary Greek Studies and Professor in Political Economy in the European Institute at LSE.
Photographs are regularly taken at events both by staff and members of the media. Photographs from events taken by Hellenic Observatory staff are often used on our social media accounts and online or printed publications. If you have any concerns about this please contact a staff member in advance of the event.
Please contact the Hellenic Observatory at Hellenicobservatory@lse.ac.uk if you would like to request a press seat or have a media query about this event.
We aim to make all our events available as a podcast upon receiving permission from the speaker/s to do this, and subject to no technical problems with the recording of the event. Podcasts are normally available 1 week after the event. You can access the podcast and video on each event’s page and on our Podcasts and Videos page.
Event updates and other information about our research and activities can be found on our Facebook page, our LinkedIn page, and our X account. For live photos from events and around campus, follow us on Instagram.
Livestreams and archive videos of past events are shared on our YouTube channel.
From time to time there are changes to event details so we strongly recommend that if you plan to attend this event you check back on this listing on the day of the event.
LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.