A REPRESENTATIVE for Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden has confirmed that Piraeus, the biggest port in Greece, has been black balled by the European Ports Alliance because it is owned by Chinese state controlled shipping giant Cosco, reports St Petersburg's PortNews.

The European Ports Alliance, established with the aim of combating drug trafficking, was inaugurated in Antwerp by the European Commission in partnership with the Belgian Presidency last month, with Verlinden overseeing the launch.

According to an official document obtained by Politico, ports owned and [majority] controlled by non-EU member states have been excluded.

Cosco Shipping holds a two-thirds stake in the Piraeus Port Authority.

Experts note that while Piraeus is not typically identified as a primary entry point for drugs into Europe, the decision to exclude it from the initiative has raised doubts about the EU's ability to ensure security at critical infrastructure under foreign ownership.