Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Our job is not to stop implementing our commitments

The ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco products to minors and the digital modernisation of the State refers to the Prime Minister on Facebook today on Sunday (2.2.25) with the weekly account of the government project. “The week that has passed has been difficult, but our job is not to stop working and implementing our commitments,” says Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the beginning of his post. CORVERSE The post of Kyriakos Mitsotakis “Good morning and a good month. The week that has passed has been difficult, but our job is not to stop working and implement our commitments. I begin today’s review with the new more stringent rules on the sale and disposal of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to minors. The relevant Health Ministry bill was presented to the previous Cabinet and comes to address an existing and serious problem, which is not limited only to the incidents that recently saw the light of publicity. That is why we are taking steps: there is again a misdemeanor, not just an administrative violation, the sale of alcohol to minors. Everywhere, from entertainment and focus to supermarkets) the seller is now obliged to search for identity information. If the buyer does not display identity, the transaction is prohibited. The violation of the law will have severe consequences: in the first infringement, the store will be sealed, while in the second relapse it will be closed permanently. Identity will also be required for the purchase of tobacco products. Specifically, for the first time, the sale of tobacco products of all nature, but also electrically heated products with or without nicotine, as well as generally any nicotine-free substance, if the buyer is a minor, is prohibited. One more thing: the entry of minors into entertainment centers and a single bar is forbidden. The Greek Police take on a key audit role, which has not so far been supported by the Municipal Police, Port Authority and the National Transparency Authority. CORVERSE For years, outstanding loans have been a burden for the development of the agricultural sector, burdening thousands of farmers and cooperatives. With the new bill of the Ministry of Rural Development, which was put into public consultation, we come to address this timeless problem, making arrangements for ‘red’ loans of 700 cooperatives and 21,000 farmers, totalling 3.8 billion euros. This is not a debt write-off, but a fair and realistic solution, with brave arrangements, ‘cuts’, but also at the same time the possibility of refinancing frozen assets worth more than EUR 1.5 billion which, if properly exploited, can contribute to a meaningful solution to the problem. Speaking of loans, I will now refer to another tool we are giving, of course, of different utility. I am talking about the Microcredit Fund, the new financial instrument we have created for granting low-interest loans of EUR 80 million to very small enterprises and schemes of women’s entrepreneurship. The resources come from the European Social Fund and the Competitiveness Programme 2021-2027, while the Hellenic Development Bank-HDB manages the Fund. The Fund is estimated to support 3,300 enterprises, of which 1,000 enterprises will be in the context of female entrepreneurship. Loans of EUR 3,000-25,000 can cover either working capital or investment projects and are offered with a repayment period of 12-96 months and a grace period of 6 months, without collateral. Moreover, we offer a significant financial relief: 60% of the loan will be interest-free for general enterprises, while for women the interest rate increases to 75%. The remaining amounts will be provided by the Microfinance Institutions. In the field of health, we take a great and necessary step, meeting a timeless request from doctors and health care. With the new Ministry of Health bill passed on Tuesday, we create 17 Trauma Centers and 2 Children’s Trauma Centers in public hospitals for the first time in our country. Our goal is one: to save lives and prevent heavy disabilities after serious injuries. Those who have suffered traffic accidents or other injuries know how crucial the first few minutes are. With the new Centres, qualified staff will provide the necessary care, with modern protocols already in place in many countries. The National Trauma Commission will monitor their operation, while our ultimate goal is to reduce by 20% deaths and severe injuries, mainly protecting young people, who are the most frequent victims of traffic accidents. I now come to the ‘Home and Work for the Homeless’ programme. The Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family doubled the support provided for a decent social home of our fellow people who are unable to meet this absolutely basic need. But we go one step further and, in addition to the homeless, we include two new categories of beneficiaries: families living in public homes and households living in precarious housing conditions. Rent expenditure for three-year and multi-year families increases from 350 to 400 euros, in households with two members from 300 to 350 and for single-persons from 250 to 300. Household costs are also increased by EUR 200 (from EUR 1200-1500 now) and a new category of aid is added for repairs and issue of energy certificates, from EUR 900-1,200, depending on household members. The programme also offers the possibility of vocational training and full subsidised work for 12 months, and gives financial support to those who want to create their own business. At the same time, it extends from 42 to 89 municipalities, with the implementation agencies now amount to 94, thus extending the number of beneficiaries. Greece turns a page in the energy sector: for the first time in 2.5 decades, it produces more electricity than it consumes and exports the surplus. What does that mean in practice? Less dependence on energy imports, greater energy security and economic benefit for the country. In 2019, electricity imports covered 18% of demand, burdening our commercial balance by EUR 400 million, while in 2023 this cost was launched at EUR 575 million due to increased imports. But in 2024 the picture changed radically. According to IPTO, Greece became a net exporter of electricity, with the trade balance showing a surplus of +61m euros by November. With research by American giants on possible natural gas deposits in our national waters and the further increase in the participation of RES in the national energy mix, our country can become a clean energy exporter in the coming years and significantly reduce our trade deficit. “Why don’t electricity prices fall within Greece, since we now export and do not import?” A reasonable question many may have. The fact that our country is exporting electricity does not mean automatically and lower prices, and that is because the European system, as I have said many times, has malfunctions that particularly affect the market in Southeast Europe. It is something I have pointed out in both letters to the President of the Commission and we are striving to change. I would add, however, that if we were still ‘importers’, our prices would be much higher. If, for example, our imports were left at 10 terawatt hours (as in 2019) with the prices of 2024, this would cost us EUR 1 billion. The fact that we now export proves that Greece has gained competitive energy advantages. And on this we will continue to build our energy future. I remain in the energy field for a pioneering landmark project: the 400 MW offshore wind power park undertaken by Motor Oil and TERNA ENERGY in the sea area south of Alexandroupolis and north of Samothraki. It will be the first of its kind in Greece, with completion horizon at the end of the current decade, and will contribute to strengthening domestic production of clean energy and reducing the environmental footprint of the two companies that actively promote sustainable development and energy transformation of the country. I continue with an important addition to civil protection: the supply of 30 state-of-the-art weather stations under the EGIS programme. The relevant contract was signed days ago by the Minister of Civil Protection. We modernize the state with new cutting edge tools and technology to protect human lives, strengthening prevention. The 30 stations will be operational in 16 months and will cooperate with the radars that follow, creating an even more powerful early warning network. I come to the digital modernisation of the public sector, with another important step: AADE has launched the myDATAapp application for mobile devices, thus facilitating businesses significantly in a series of daily needs: from the creation and publication of mission documents and digital bulletins, to the management of the clientele and the provision of the entire financial profile of the company. All through their phone! The new application saves time and money, ensuring absolute protection of business data, while also strengthening collective effort against tax evasion. The digital modernisation of the State does not stop here. The services of gov.gr have now reached 2,073, with the most recent granting and extension of car and motorcycle driving licences. The application shall now be submitted easily and quickly electronically to the special platform and shall concern all categories of driving licences. Thus, bureaucracy is reduced and citizens save valuable time and suffering. Again through gov.gr, the Ministry of Digital Governance has free 100,000 approved certificates of digital signatures to both citizens and professionals (engineers, lawyers, etc.), who are registered in professional registers or bodies, as part of the project “Providing Trust Services”. The use of digital signatures reduces the need for physical presence to process documents in both the public and private sectors, facilitating particularly disabled persons and residents of remote areas. The Convention on the Establishment of Public Onassis Schools was ratified by the Parliament, along with new parameters added to the institution and broadening the students’ access, while ensuring the stability of the educational staff. Thus, first of all, a criterion of locality is introduced so that the final classification of the students in the DIM. Ooh. S. to be preceded by 40% to 60% of the children in the areas around schools. Secondly, the introduction of younger brothers of students already attending these training units is facilitated. The relevant regulation applies to the experimental schools, specifically providing for the possibility of introducing younger brothers, even if they have not achieved the required score until the maximum number of students has been completed. Thirdly, the teachers and vice-directors of schools that will be transformed into DI.M. S. will be able to remain in their positions for two years, by ensuring the organisationality of the positions. After two years they will be able to continue if they successfully attend training programmes. By February 17, the time series in which all new Onassis Public Schools will operate will be decided. I will say again: this is an extremely important initiative that enriches and supports public education, widens and increases opportunities for everyone. From the field of education and the next issue concerning one of the great challenges of our time, Artificial Intelligence. Harvard’s Centre for Greek Studies offers a 12-month research scholarship to postdoctoral researcher or researcher from any scientific field for conducting original research on issues relating to the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. At a time when technology is rapidly evolving, such initiatives are more important than ever. Through the mediation of the National Committee on Bioethics and Technology we have recommended since April 2021, Harvard’s Centre for Greek Studies offers scholarships to PhD students to investigate the ethical, social and philosophical implications of artificial intelligence and how it affects more and more aspects of our lives. This initiative is important because it highlights the role Greece can play in an area that shapes the future. Research around Artificial Intelligence is not only about technology but also about the principles and values that accompany it. And it is crucial that we have a say in this debate. However, there is a strong potential and they prove it a number of successes of our students and students in high requirements international competitions. More recent example, the National Robotics Team, which won a total of 8 medals—a gold medal and seven Technical Awards—in the 26th World Robotics Olympiad in South Korea. In the competition – one of the most prestigious internationally – a total of 60 teams from around the world participated. This excellent performance gave the Greek mission the top position among European countries. Bravo in Nicolas Leimon, Alexander Weider, Philip Katis, Royal Kelandria, Maria Isabella Voyage and Kallirois Anastasiou. I put a period here and renew our date for next Sunday. Good day!”.