Constantinos Mousouroulis is the new Minister of Mercantile Marine and Island Policy of Greece. Newly elected Prime Minister Antonis Samaras chose Mr. Mousouroulis to head the reinstated ministry, along with Mr. Giorgos Vernicos who will be Deputy Mercantile Marine Minister, in charge of Island Policy. The re-introduction of a Mercantile Marine Ministry has been a long standing request of the Greek shipping community.
Constantinos Mousouroulis has worked for the European Commission from 1987-2004 and was General Secretary at the Greek Finance Ministry from 2004 to 2007. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the European Investment Bank for a two year period. In 2009 he was elected Member of the Hellenic Parliament (Chios constituency).
According to ShippingHerald sources, Greek ship-owners are pleased at the reinstatement of the Mercantile Marine Ministry in Greece and at the choice of Mr. Mousouroulis at the helm. The new Minister will have to deal immediately with pressing issues such as the issues of maritime education, incentives for owners to choose the Greek flag for their vessels and the drive for the Greek shipping community to invest further in Greece thus aiding the country's efforts to exit an ongoing financial crisis.
Antonis Samaras was sworn in Tuesday following talks with his two coalition partners, PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos and Fotis Kouvelis of Democratic Left. The new cabinet was announced Wednesday and is expected to be sworn in imminently.