Thrace is turning into an international energy center, the Prime Minister also emphasized
The prime minister announced the increase by 50% of the upper limit of agricultural oil for which the Excise Tax is refunded Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a discussion he had with citizens in Maroneia Rodopis, while at the same time he had the opportunity to refer to the benefits that the major tax reform passed last week will bring to the real income of all workers and pensioners.
“An important announcement was made today by the Ministry of Financethat the upper limit of oil for which the Excise Tax is refunded to our farmers is increased by 50%. It was a request that was met by the Ministry. Let them know farmers us, our livestock breeders, that in our own plan for the development of our country they have a central role”, noted the Prime Minister.
“We are in a constant consultation about how we can support the primary sector, how we can clean up on the fly, without delays in payments, the payment system, which had basically closed its circle”added Mr. Mitsotakis. “We have to go through this consolidation process so that real farmers and real breeders know that they will be the recipients of European funds.”
“To feel the development of every citizen, wherever he is in the territory”
Talking to citizens, Mr. Mitsotakis pointed out that the main goal of the government is to boost the real income of households. In this context, he focused on the annual return of a rent and the annual allowance of 250 euros to low-pensioners, uninsured seniors and the disabled, which will be given for the first time this year at the end of November, while he also referred to the TIF tax relief mix, which was legislated last Friday.
The prime minister emphasized, among other things, that the measures provide incentives for decentralization and the strengthening of the region, with the peak of the reduction of ENFIA by 50% in 2026 and its zero in 2027 for first homes in settlements of up to 1,500 inhabitants. Especially for the region of Evros, the population limit is increased to 1,700 inhabitants, a provision that was also extended to the Region of Western Macedonia and the Municipalities of the Region of Central Macedonia, the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and the Region of Epirus that touch the borders of the country.
“I will not get tired of saying it: it is not enough that the economy is doing well in terms of indicators related to the course of development, public debt. This development must be felt by every citizen, wherever he is in the territory. And this cannot be done if we do not pay attention to the local problems, but also to the local opportunities presented by each region”, he underlined.
A representative of the officers of the Coast Guard in Evros who took part in the discussion thanked the prime minister for the increases in the salaries of the enlisted men and for the reduction of taxation.
The prime minister was welcomed by the regional governor of Eastern Macedonia – Thrace Christodoulos Topsidis, the member of parliament for Rodopi of the New Republic Euripides Stylianidis, the mayor of Maroneia – Sapon Apostolos Ioannou, who thanked Mr. Mitsotakis for the interventions being made for the benefit of the region and mentioned the importance of supporting local communities.
Mr. Mitsotakis also referred to the utilization of the tourist front of the Rhodopes through the creation of a marina in the municipality of Maroneia – Sapon, between Kavala and Alexandroupoli, and also the connection of Maroneia with the coastal road of Evros.
“The road that will connect the borders of Evros with Maroneia is a very important development project. But I think what is of particular importance is that we have already proposed in our local planning a complex project which we are already able to place: a marina, a place to welcome investments in maritime tourism, which I think will be an important springboard for the development of the entire Rhodope coastal front, with obvious development footprints.
Of course, this is also connected with the further activation of the northern axis, how we will allow more buses to pass, so that the Rhodope does not become just an area through which visitors pass, but an independent visitor pole, so that the very special characteristics of the place can be highlighted”, noted the Prime Minister.
As part of his visit to Maroneia, Kyriakos Mitsotakis had the opportunity to take a tour of the Tavaniotis Mansion, which has been completely renovated and hosts an exhibition of antiquities and material on the subject of Maroneia and Ismaros, while it is expected to be certified as a museum by the end of 2026.
“We have demonstrated that we practice effective energy diplomacy for the benefit of national interests”
“Greece and Thrace, in particular, is turning into an international energy center. And our country has proven in practice that it can exercise very effective energy diplomacy always to the benefit of national interests”, pointed out Mr. Mitsotakis, against the visit to the new Natural Gas Compression Station in the Industrial Area of Komotini.
The Prime Minister’s full statement is as follows:
“The Compressor Station, which was put into operation a few days ago, substantially increases the ability to supply not only the domestic system, but, most importantly, to export more natural gas to our northern neighbors.
Greece and Thrace, in particular, is turning into an international energy center. And our country proved in practice that it can exercise very effective energy diplomacy always to the benefit of national interests.
The presence of such a large American delegation in our country last week demonstrated exactly the pivotal importance of Greece, as the starting point of the vertical axis, of the possibility, i.e. gas supply from Greece, which will come in various forms, including liquefied natural gas which will be called from the USA, so that we can supply countries such as from the United States of America to supply forest Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary. You understand, then, how important an upgrade of Greece’s geopolitical position these very important investments, which are also made by DESFA, constitute, and I look forward to even more national successes on the front of energy diplomacy”.
Mr. Mitsotakis was given a tour of the Station’s facilities by the CEO of DESFA, Maria Rita Galli.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister of Development Takis Theodorikakos, the Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister Thanasis Kontogeorgis, the Deputy Minister of the Interior (Macedonia and Thrace) Kostas Giulekas, the MP Euripides Stylianis, the Secretary of the Political Committee of the New Republic Kostas Skrekas, and the regional governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrakis Christodoulos Topsidis.