Corfu, February 24, 2026 – The Union of Port Authority Personnel of Northwestern Greece has once again brought forward its long-standing and justified request for the provision of a border allowance to personnel serving in the Port Authorities of Corfu, Paxos, and Igoumenitsa. The Union highlights the unique geographical characteristics and the increased operational demands faced by these officers.
Unique Geographical Position and Increased Operational Demands
The Port Authorities in question are located in areas with distinct border characteristics, owing to their immediate proximity to the maritime and land borders of other countries, specifically Italy and Albania. This geographical positioning results in heightened cross-border mobility and, consequently, increased operational requirements, continuous readiness, and constant management of incidents related to:
- Border security at sea.
- Addressing irregular migratory flows.
- Combating cross-border crime.
- Ensuring the security of ports of international importance.
- Search and Rescue (SAR) operations under challenging weather and operational conditions.
- Guaranteeing the safe movement of millions of passengers and vehicles.
Igoumenitsa, in particular, borders Albania and serves as a crucial gateway connecting Greece with Italy and the rest of Europe. It boasts the largest international port and the second-largest in the country in terms of passenger and vehicle traffic. Corfu, due to its strategic location in the Ionian Sea (bordering Italy and Albania, with a distance of merely 1.2 nautical miles), manages a significant volume of international maritime traffic.
Operational Burden and Service Conditions
Personnel serving in these Port Authorities undertake duties of high responsibility under conditions of increased operational burden. This often extends beyond standard working hours, involving continuous alerts, night shifts, and emergency missions. These demanding conditions underscore the need for appropriate recognition and compensation.
Estimated Fiscal Cost
To provide a comprehensive and realistic representation of their request, the Union has provided an indicative calculation of the cost associated with granting this allowance:
- Number of personnel (at maximum organizational strength according to the organizational chart for Corfu, Paxos, and Igoumenitsa): 423 officers.
- Allowance amount per officer: €130 per month.
Based on these figures, the estimated costs are:
- Monthly cost: 423 officers x €130 = €54,990
- Annual cost: €54,990 x 12 months = €659,880
The total estimated annual fiscal cost therefore amounts to €659,880. The Union emphasizes that this amount is essentially negligible for the State Budget, especially when compared to other types of allowances, benefits, or public procurements. Furthermore, it would yield significant operational and moral benefits for personnel serving in particularly demanding and sensitive areas of the country.
Principle of Equality and Equal Treatment
The principle of equal treatment for security forces personnel necessitates the recognition of objective service conditions and the rectification of evident inequalities. The current unequal treatment is inconsistent with the principle of equality and does not reflect the actual operational burden on the serving personnel. The non-provision of a border allowance creates an inequality compared to other categories of public employees in the same geographical area.
The Union finds it inconceivable that other public servants and employees of Local Government Organizations (LGAs) in the same region receive this allowance (while acknowledging that they rightly receive it), whereas personnel of the Hellenic Coast Guard, whose mission is directly linked to the protection of national borders and the safeguarding of public order, do not. Granting this allowance would:
- Rectify an existing salary inequality.
- Serve as an incentive for retention and staffing of services.
- Constitute a tangible recognition by the State of the personnel’s contribution to securing national borders and public safety.
The Request
In light of the above, the Union formally requests the immediate institutional provision and granting of a border allowance to the personnel of the Hellenic Coast Guard serving in the Port Authorities of Corfu, Paxos, and Igoumenitsa, in analogy with other areas of the country that possess similar geographical and operational characteristics.
