In his recent meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York declaring that “just because we discuss does not mean that we agree on everything”, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis refers, among others, in his post on Facebook on Sunday morning (29.9.24 ).
Moving on to the weekly report on government work, as he does every Sunday, Kyriakos Mitsotakis makes an extensive reference to his trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly and the contacts he had there, stressing “the great interest of international investors, companies, organizations and banks for Greece, after the recovery of the investment grade”.
It also refers to the strengthening of primary health care with the “personal doctor”, while it also refers to the agreement on the electrical interconnection between Greece and Cyprus.
The post of Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Good morning everyone! Returning from New York, where I was for the UN General Assembly, I want to share some things with you, starting with the diaspora’s undying love for the country. Speaking with them, they expressed their joy that they were able – for the first time – to vote by mail, even in the European elections. They want and we want them to have this possibility in the national ballot as well. I am sure, as I told them, that after the successful organization of the process, no party will refuse – because 200 votes are needed in Parliament – to grant the right to those living abroad to vote without having to visit the Embassy or Consulate or to return to Greece, as has been the case until now.
I keep the great interest of international investors, companies, organizations and banks in Greece, after the recovery of the investment grade. I invited them to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in a country like ours with political stability, with a broad reform plan, dynamic growth with fiscal responsibility and rapid absorption of the Recovery Fund resources. Because of all these features, we saw the unthinkable until a few years ago, the Greek 5-year bond trading in the markets with a lower interest rate than the French counterpart – 2.44% Greek, 2.50% French, while we have reduced spectacularly the yield difference with the German 10-year.
I also consider it important to include two issues of Greek interest – maritime security and the protection of culture as integral elements of sustainable development – in the Pact for the Future approved by the UN Summit. Greece, and as a member of the Security Council, will continue to have an active role in the negotiation to address climate change which is inextricably linked to sustainable development, peace and security.
And I close the US chapter with the meeting I had with President Erdogan, the 6th in a year. Again, the fact that we discuss does not mean that we agree on everything. Greece does not even enter the process of discussing the recognition of a pseudo-state, nor do we apparently weigh issues of sovereignty and sovereign rights. We agreed on closer cooperation on immigration and on a new meeting of the Supreme Cooperation Council at the beginning of 2025.
I may have been in New York, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have news to tell you about government work, as government activity never stops! We are solving an important social issue. Those workers who become entitled to a disability pension will now be able to receive their pension without interrupting their work, as has been the case until now. In other words, the “job or support from the state” dilemma ends. The relevant provision was incorporated into the Ministry of Health’s bill on a personal doctor for every citizen, free visits to a pediatrician and strong financial incentives for young doctors.
Strengthening primary health care is at the heart of our reform work. The bill that was put to consultation this week significantly increases the number of doctors who can become Personal Doctors, so that we can give every citizen the opportunity to register for free with a doctor in the area where they live and reside.
It is recalled that the Personal Doctor is a free provision for all citizens, who obtain a personal health advisor for matters of health education, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and guidance in serious health problems. It is the citizen’s first contact with the health system and is responsible for prevention, examination, updating of the individual electronic health file, prescription of medicines and referral for tests to specialist doctors.
Precisely because we believe in the institution of the Personal Doctor, for the first time a financial incentive of 40,000 euros is given once at the level of gross earnings to young doctors, to choose in the year 2025 to train in the specialties of either General/Family Medicine or Internal Pathology. At the same time, always focusing on the effort to reduce inequalities in access to health, we institute the Personal Pediatrician. In the first phase, around 530,000 children will have free access for the first time. The bill is complemented by the establishment of 7 University Health Centers, one in each Medical School/Department of the country, in which faculty members will serve. In these, Telemedicine Stations will operate, while within the framework of the Telemedicine Network there will be 3,500 home care points throughout the country. Thus, wherever in the country they live, patients will be able to have care at home with 24-hour uninterrupted medical monitoring.
I continue now with another bill that was tabled in Parliament, that of the Ministry of the Interior to improve the functioning of Municipalities and Regions. With this, debtors will be able to settle their debts to the Municipalities or their legal entities in up to 60 installments or through an out-of-court settlement, while the most vulnerable will be exempted from the surcharges of up to 95%. In addition, local government will receive 200 million euros in 2024 to cover its operational costs and overdue debts, while I remind you that from 2025, the funding of Municipalities and Regions will increase by 53 million euros per year.
Two other important issues regulated by the bill: citizens will be able to access public documents, with the incorporation of the relevant Tromsꬿ Convention of the Council of Europe, which means more transparency in the action of the administration. And finally, the fines for the arbitrary use of public common areas are increasing. Pedestrians and especially disabled people cannot and should not have difficulty in their movements.
I am moving on to good news, as the agreement between Greece and Cyprus for the Cyprus-Crete electrical interconnection, a project worth 2 billion euros, of strategic importance for Cyprus, Greece, but also for the entire European Union, has been finalized. It will not only connect Cyprus to Europe’s electricity system, ensuring its energy security and cheaper electricity costs, but at the same time, it will promote Greece’s goal of becoming a clean energy transport corridor. Increasing network interconnections between European countries is a critical factor in promoting the green transition. The negotiations were time-consuming and laborious, to be expected for such large and complex investments, but we were able to overcome the thorny issues to launch the famous Cable, in the implementation of which France is also involved.
I am staying on the energy side to tell you that the financing of the project for the “Alexandroupolis Independent Natural Gas System” was approved by the European Commission with 202 million euros through NSRF. The commissioning of the Alexandroupolis LNG Terminal is expected on October 1. The Commission’s decision constitutes a recognition of the importance of the project which will strengthen the role and prospects of Greece as a hub in the transport of energy in the wider region, but also as a source for the country’s energy supply with natural gas.
The just Greece that the citizens -rightly- demand also means that no one is above the law! Ample time was given to the Panhellenic Taxi Federation to receive and distribute to its members the special signage informing customers that it is mandatory to accept payments via POS as well. Refusal practically means violating the provisions of the law. Within the next 5 weeks, the taxi professionals should have fulfilled their obligation, to receive – at no cost to themselves – the special marking and stick it on a visible part of the vehicle, as is the case in many other European countries! We cannot want to become Europe à la carte. Those who do not comply within this time will be asked to pay a fine of 1,000 euros.
The implementation of the AEGIS program continues at a rapid pace. A few days ago, the contract was signed for 414 new fire engines that cover all kinds of operational needs of the Fire Brigade. The 160 will have been received before the start of the next fire protection season and by August next year they will have reached 235. This year’s official tally will of course be made, but we can point out now that in the most difficult fire-meteorological conditions of over the past 40 years, we’ve dealt with 4,500 fires and burned 24% fewer acres than the 20-year average.
True to our commitment to lower taxes, this week we corrected with my own intervention and a misstep that rightfully caused a backlash. We have abolished the tax on boats up to seven meters in length, as these boats do not actually serve recreational purposes, nor are they associated with luxury living to be taxed. On the contrary, they are mainly exploited in the context of recreational fishing. The beneficiaries of the arrangement are estimated at tens of thousands.
This is a retroactive arrangement and those owners of small boats who have already paid the tax will be refunded.
I close with the honorable invitation for Greece to the recent G7 Summit of Ministers of Culture, in Naples. It is the first time that our country has been invited to participate in this Summit and indeed together with two economic superpowers, Brazil and India! It may be known, but it is important when it is recognized at such a level what the host of the Synod, the Minister of Culture of Italy, said, that in Greece rests the entire European edifice and the edifice of Western civilization.
I hope you found something of interest in this review. We renew our appointment for next Sunday!
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