In the meeting on energy that took place in Athens on Thursday-Friday, but also in what happened in Vorizia, it is mentioned, among others, Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his Sunday post.
Especially for the P-TEC session he writes that it was a “resounding confirmation of the central role of our country in the international energy scene” adding that “we have been ensuring energy and geopolitical security for many years”.
As for her Crete – on the occasion of what happened in North – the prime minister recalls “the 12-point plan aimed at prevention, with special interventions in the education of our children in Crete” adding “”magic” is not shooting, not even in the air at a party. But to push on, reproducing in today the good instead of the bad versions of yesterday.”
“There are difficulties, yes. But there is also the will to overcome them, all together. Without forgetting, at the same time, the positive things we achieve. In this Greece, after all, I believe: in a country that is not afraid to change, and does not stop moving forward” concludes the prime minister in his post.
The entire post by Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Some weeks feel like they go by faster than others, you hardly have time to realize how much has happened. This week I dare say it had everything. Moments of pride, but also moments that remind us that the responsibility of governance is never an easy task.
I’ll start on a positive note.
Much has been said and much will be said about this historic two-day event that took place within 48 hours of years of efforts to transform our homeland into an energy hub for the wider region. I would like you to keep 3 main conclusions:
First: what we experienced in Athens was a resounding confirmation of the central role of our country in the international energy scene. Greece, thanks to political stability, mutual trust with the USA, our important energy infrastructures and the power of Greek shipping, undertakes to transfer American energy to our continent in cooperation with the USA.
The “Vertical Corridor”, an energy corridor connecting Greece-Bulgaria-Romania-Moldova-Ukraine and even Slovakia-Hungary starting from Alexandroupolis, is going to become the central energy artery of Eastern Europe and a key tool for the continent’s energy independence from Russian gas.
Thus, we ensure energy and geopolitical security for our country for many years. Our consistent position against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Europe’s energy dependence on Russia is being rewarded.
Second: for the first time in 40 years, exploratory drilling is being started for the exploitation of potential underwater natural gas deposits northwest of Corfu, in collaboration with the American energy giant Exxon Mobil. If the forecasts for significant fields are confirmed, Greece can meet its natural gas needs for many years. An agreement that would not have become a reality if we had not secured our sovereign rights in the context of the agreement on the Greece-Italy EEZ in 2020.
Third: these developments strengthen the energy sovereignty and security of our country, investing in the diversification of energy sources. In no way do they lead to a suspension of our planning for the green transition. After all, there too, in the field of RES, Greece remains a pioneer on a global level with the exponential increase in the share of photovoltaic and wind investments in the national energy mix.
All these developments and investments are not numbers on paper. They translate into thousands of new, well-paid jobs for our fellow citizens, better wages, growth for local communities, better energy prices for households and businesses. In a new national wealth that will support the younger generations. This is modern and responsible patriotism.
However, reality does not allow us to be complacent. Because at the same time as we move forward, there are wounds that open up and remind us how much work we still have to do as a society. The week was painted, unfortunately, with blood in my special homeland, Crete, hurting the whole of Greece and its culture. Because we know very well that nowadays the illegal possession of weapons is a counterfeit, a distortion and an insult to our tradition. “Manhood” in my country is pride and fighting for the good. Not revenge. And the Cretans always kept their weapons to defend themselves against the invader on the island. Not to turn them against their fellow countryman.
As already announced, the government will implement a 12-point plan aimed at prevention, with special interventions in the education of our children in Crete, the strengthening of policing as well as legislative regulations that tighten gun ownership and the criminal treatment of those who possess and use weapons illegally. The offense of unlawful possession of a revolver or handgun becomes a felony. Police action on the island will be strengthened. Voluntary surrender of undeclared weapons will also be allowed, without criminal penalties. While throughout Crete, from the new school year, there will be a special course against juvenile delinquency and violence with the assistance of psychologists, as well as special schools for parents.
However, civil society must also be activated. With the first reason being that it belongs to the families themselves. The new generation of Cretans should be convinced that “vendettas” and self-righteousness are wastes of past times that do not honor anyone. As much as he feels that “magic” is not shooting, not even in the air at a party. But to push on, reproducing in today the good instead of the bad versions of yesterday.
Of course, I have no illusions. It will be a difficult and long-term effort. Only in this way, however, will we one day achieve that the offending behavior of minorities will no longer find a place in our daily lives. I don’t want anyone to think that we are targeting Crete. But we can no longer pass by a phenomenon that costs lives and consider it “normal” because once upon a time “that’s how it was in Crete”. Today’s Crete is much more than yesterday’s attitudes.
I completely change the subject now and continue with the digital job card that was extended from last Monday to 4 other main sectors of the economy: energy, wholesale and retail trade, financial and insurance activities and administrative and support services in tourism. With this expansion, over 1,850,000 employees in 280,000 businesses are now covered.
The effectiveness of the reform is already visible: over 3.5 million hours of overtime are reported and paid as normal. And of course, where the digital card is not applied, there is a fine of 10,500 euros per employee.
The Action Plan for the complete modernization of the management and control system of agricultural subsidies has been submitted to the European Commission, a step that marks a new beginning for agricultural subsidies. In cooperation with the Community authorities, we have established a reliable and transparent framework, which includes the creation of a new digital geospatial map of the country to clearly separate eligible and non-eligible areas, a new way of recording sheep and goats with an electronic “bolo”, more and more targeted checks from mixed scales and other tools to establish the ownership of plots of land through cross-checks with the National Land Registry and other digital bases. At the same time ELAS and the Ministry of Citizen Protection announced that the number of imputations for illegal aid has now reached 1,670 and the amount of money returned exceeds 33 million euros.
As we have said, we will take the knife to the bone so that our country is not dragged down by such attitudes again and that agricultural aid goes exclusively to real and honest farmers.
I am moving on to the field of the administration of justice and to the extraordinary competition announced for the filling of 80 judicial clerk positions at the Court of First Instance of Piraeus. At the same time, with the new regulation passed this year, for the first time prospective judicial officers who choose to serve in areas with increased needs, such as islands, mountains or small municipalities, will have an increase in their final grade of success. We know there are gaps, but efforts are made year after year to fill them.
Also very important is the construction and upgrading program of the court buildings for Attica that was presented a few days ago by the leadership of the Ministry. The projects in Attica, together with what we announced a few days ago for the rest of Greece, raise the financial size of all building interventions to approximately 600 million euros.
We are talking about renovations of existing buildings, such as the Court of First Instance of Athens in the former Evelpidon School, in Peristeri and Koropi, but also the construction of new courthouses such as the one in Piraeus, where the work is progressing within schedules.
In January, the Council of State moves to the new, renovated building of Arsakeios and this is a huge contribution of the Ministry of Justice to the architectural heritage of our country.
Attica is acquiring infrastructure, which can respond to the modern needs of this great change made with the Judicial Charter. Judges, clerks, lawyers deserve to have dignified premises, and Justice to be delivered in a way that is worthy of its mission.
One of the most successful energy saving programs, “Change Heating System and Water Heater”, is starting with even more momentum. Due to the very large participation – approximately 192,000 applications have already been submitted – we have increased the budget of the program by 424 million euros, reaching a total of 647 million. At the same time, we are extending the schedule for cashing the checks, until April 30, 2026. Our goal is for every household to have the opportunity to reduce energy costs, contributing to a greener everyday life.
In our regional news now, on the formulation of local development plans: this week the government was in Drama where the local development plan was presented, a comprehensive plan of 748 million euros with infrastructure projects, support policies and loans for businesses. The vertical axis “Drama-Amphipolis”, where the 250 million euro PPP tender is running, and the Urban Solid Waste Treatment Unit of Kavala, worth 44 million euros, which will also serve Drama, stand out.
In the Health sector, work is progressing on the new Artificial Kidney Unit at the Drama Hospital and the upgrading of the Paranesti, Kato Nevrokopi and Prosotsani Health Centers is being completed. At the same time, we are launching the reopening of the Kallithea camps with the cooperation of the Metropolis and the Municipality of Prosotsani, while in the city of Drama, which hosts the international short film festival every September, we are creating a hub for audiovisual arts in the former Andrikakis camp. We keep our cities and villages alive, because a strong region means a strong Greece.
I close this review with realism, but also optimism. There are difficulties, yes. But there is also the will to overcome them, all together. Without forgetting, at the same time, the positive things we achieve. In this Greece, after all, I believe: in a country that is not afraid to change, and does not stop moving forward. Good morning!