Industry News

By Natassa Stasinou

As the Greek economy continues to move beyond the crisis years and regain international investor interest, the transformation of the Athens Stock Exchange into Euronext Athens takes on particular significance ¡ª not merely as a business transaction, but as a strategic repositioning of the country on Europe¡¯s financial map.

As St¨¦phane Boujnah, Chief Executive Officer of Euronext, tells Naftemporiki, Athens ¡°will not simply join the network; it will help shape it,¡± with the ambition of becoming one of the group¡¯s key pillars in the years ahead. The integration is expected to bring direct access for Greek companies to Europe¡¯s largest pool of liquidity, enhanced international visibility and, potentially, a new wave of ¡°corporate homecoming¡± for Greek firms that sought capital abroad.

¡°We are not investing in Greece for what it has been; we are investing for what it will become,¡± Mr Boujnah stresses, speaking to Naftemporiki on the occasion of the 11th Delphi Economic Forum.

Within this context, the head of Euronext highlighted Athens¡¯ role as a hub for technology, energy markets and the financing of both the public and private sectors, at a time when Europe is facing the challenge of deeper integration and greater strategic autonomy.

¡°This integration is much more than an acquisition: it is a long-term commitment to Greece and to the role that Athens can play in Europe¡¯s economic future. At a time when the Greek economy is performing strongly, we want to give Greek companies direct access to the largest European liquidity pool, international investors, increased growth opportunities for listed Greek companies and a more attractive market for companies that choose to list,¡± he said.

Over the next five years, I see Athens becoming one of Euronext's strategic pillars. It will not simply join our network; it will help shape it. Athens has the potential to become Euronext¡¯s gateway to Southeastern Europe and a hub for technology, energy markets, sovereign debt and the financing of Greek and regional companies.

He said Euronext is already acting on this vision, including establishing a new group-level support and technology centre in Athens to support Euronext¡¯s business lines across Europe and create highly skilled jobs in Greece. He added that the group also intends to strengthen cooperation between Nord Pool and the Greek power market operator, EnEx, and to facilitate trading in Greek sovereign debt on MTS to improve its liquidity.

The rebranding to ¡°Euronext Athens¡± reflects this ambition: preserving a strong Greek identity while connecting Athens to a pan-European marketplace.

Boujnah said the timing is ¡°exactly right,¡± noting that Greece is no longer defined by the crisis of the past decade; it is increasingly recognised as one of Europe¡¯s strongest recovery stories. He added that regaining investment-grade status is international recognition of the discipline, resilience and ambition that Greece has demonstrated over many years.

He said Greece now combines stronger macroeconomic fundamentals, political stability and growing investor confidence. He added that there is significant potential for new listings, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises and family-owned businesses.

The integration of Athens gives us a strong platform for the next stage of Euronext¡¯s development. Greece is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of Europe, the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean. From Athens, Euronext can become a natural gateway to Southeastern Europe.