Political leaders, business executives, academics and local government officials are gathering in the port city of Alexandroupolis on March 19 and 20 for the fourth East Macedonia & Thrace Forum, a two-day conference focused on the future of the region and Southeast Europe more broadly.

The forum is organized by City Hub Events, part of the Alter Ego Media Group, and Tsomokos Communications, and is being held at the Grecotel Astir Palace.

Alexandroupolis has emerged in recent years as a critical node for energy, transport and geopolitical developments, and the conference takes place against a backdrop of significant international turbulence — with the Middle East crisis escalating and global energy markets under strain.

The region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace is increasingly recognized as a key geopolitical and energy hub with growing influence over the balance of power in southeastern Europe.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and Matthew Whitaker, the United States Ambassador and Permanent Representative to NATO, are among the speakers attending the conference, in what is shaping up as one of the conference’s most closely watched sessions, focused on the strategic role of southeastern Europe and the future of the Alliance.

Among political figures present at the two-day forum are Transport and Infrastructure Minister Christos Dimas, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Thanasis Kontogeorgis, Deputy Minister for Digital Governance Christos Dermentzopoulos, and Deputy Minister for Macedonia and Thrace Konstantinos Gioulekas.

The first day centers on the region’s role in a rapidly shifting geopolitical environment, with particular emphasis on the strategic importance of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, its contribution to Europe’s defense posture, and the impact of international crises on energy security.

The second day shifts focus to regional development and public policy, with sessions addressing decentralization, local governance, demographic challenges, healthcare infrastructure and employment in the periphery.

Now in its fourth edition, the East Macedonia & Thrace Forum has emerged as a significant platform for public dialogue on the region’s development, with participants highlighting its potential as an energy hub, a field for economic cooperation and a pillar of stability in southeastern Europe.