Mitsotakis: We conclude the agreement on Canadaair – Economic recovery offers investment opportunities

In his visit the prime minister refers to him in his established weekly review. Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Canada will complete the 7 Canadaair purchase agreement, while special reference is made to the fact that he is going to a country with an intense Greek element. At the same time it refers to the tax calendar as well as to the reinstatement of 5 day school miscarriage in cases of bullying. In detail the Prime Minister’s Facebook post: “Happy birthday to all Greek women, to all Greeks. Happy birthday in Greece. On the eve of the double celebration of the National Independence and the Annunciation of the Virgin, I want to begin today’s review with a exhortation to all of us. To look with self-awareness and confidence at the big picture, to see how much we have achieved within 203 years of the revolution for our independence. But where we stumbled, wasting time and opportunities to conquer even more together. Let us briefly put aside what we think separate us and think about how much this “beautiful and strange homeland” has gone through in the two centuries from the national uprising for its independence until it becomes a modern liberal European Republic. A country with history, present and future, known and respected throughout the world. To reflect on how many disasters he has lived and how many triumphs he has achieved, the great mistakes he has made and the wise decisions he has made at critical heart of History. And to realize that divided Greeks we bent, while united we did great work. Every time demagoguery took a head, the country paid dearly and stayed behind the rest of the world. When patriotism gained responsibility, Greece took us forward and opened roads for the rest of the world. The story of this place will be celebrated tomorrow. With pride and full awareness that from what we have achieved – Politics and society – so far, nothing has been obvious, nor easy. But also with deep awareness that much still needs to be done at all levels in order to solve “grard links” that come from the past, to create even more solid and durable democratic institutions, to correct timeless delays, pathogens and mentalities that block the reconstruction of tomorrow’s strong Greece, so that they can face the great challenges that are already changing our world at great speeds. In this joint battle we all need, because – I will say this again – only united peoples can overcome the difficulties. I firmly believe that homogeneity can play a very important role in this collective effort, for the benefit of the country and the Greek people, much more now with the possibility that Greeks everywhere can vote from their place of residence but also by an epistolic vote, beginning with the forthcoming European elections. I chose this great day to be close to our expatriates of wider Hellenism. I will have the opportunity at my meetings – today and tomorrow – with our fellow citizens in Montreal and Toronto to encourage them to make use of this important democratic right that widens and strengthens our democracy through wider participation and at the same time facilitates those who have objective difficulties to vote. And I’m proud that the South West Party and our government have done it. During my visit to Canada, the first Greek Prime Minister since 1983, along with my counterpart Justin Trido, we will attend the great parade for the anniversary of March 25th organized by the Greek family, which is estimated to be 350,000 of our countrymen. At the same time, after Parliament’s approval, we will conclude with the Canadian manufacturer the agreement for the purchase of 7 Canadian aircraft of type DHC 515, total costs of around 360m euros, five funded by the Recovery Fund as part of the ‘AGIS’ equipment program and both through the European Union’s civil protection mechanism. We must never forget that the important resources for civil protection, as in the case of Canadaair, and for national defence, as in the case of the new Romeo MH-60R Seahawk helicopters that the Navy received earlier days, come from the Greek people’s lag. But they are absolutely necessary to safeguard our national independence, which is a prerequisite for social progress and social cohesion. To close with Canada, I will have the opportunity to present to the business community one of the seven most powerful economies in the world, a member of the G7, the investment opportunities offered by the recovery and development of the Greek economy. We don’t say that. According to the latest report by the Economist Intelligence Unit – the most prestigious international financial publication – Greece recorded in recent years the greatest improvement in the business environment between 82 countries, even rising by 28 places from 2018: from 62nd to 34th. Is that enough? I’d say no. We can and must go even higher because only through strong growth can we achieve better incomes, prosperity for many but also more quality democracy. Our country’s spectacular progress is attributed to the reforms we have made, to reducing taxes and to initiatives to strengthen business confidence. The tax alarm We are determined to proceed with all necessary structural reforms, facilitating both businesses and citizens. I also have a recent example of such a facility to quote: the new, useful myADEapp application that will make the everyday lives of millions of citizens less complicated. Tax payments and transactions with tax administration may not be the most pleasant contact of the citizen with the state, but because they are necessary, we must make it as easy as possible for the citizens! This application acts as a tax calendar, but also as a tax ‘intelligence’. The average citizen may now have on his mobile phone the “radiography” of his tax obligations. And it can do a number of actions, such as tax information issue, tax repayment, information about tax refunds, receive payment deadlines notices, etc. The obligation to produce books mainly for skilled and small enterprises is repealed Also, through the new tax procedure code posted in consultation this week, very soon, much more will change in your contact with the IRS for the better. I give you a preview of the simplifications. The completion and submission of the tax declaration by salaries and pensions shall be automatic. The obligation to produce books is abolished, particularly for skilled and small enterprises. Tax information will be published more quickly and space will be limited for tax controls. All these cuts, among the most important of the last decades in the operation of the tax mechanism in Greece, lead to less bureaucracy and more transparency. Before changing the subject, I should like to highlight another good news from the front of digitization. Business interconnection with POS systems to reduce tax evasion and improve the collection mechanism is well progressed. They have already reached 110,000 at the rates recorded over the past few weeks – even surpassing 5,000 businesses per day, the project is expected to be completed within the schedules. Another nearly 185,000 companies requested funding to cover part of the POS market costs, is the fourth cycle. The 3 previous ones were allocated EUR 40,6 million in the form of vouchers to 290,975 enterprises, and the start of the 5th round of financing for those who did not join the previous cycles is expected and are entitled to funding. Strict framework for golden visa Another change in our policy to support affordable housing was announced this week in the context of the many measures we have already taken. We are making the golden visa framework even stricter by foreign citizens through the purchase of housing in our country. This measure had been adopted in the difficult years of the economic crisis and indeed helped greatly at the time to bring investment and revenue into the Greek economy. But it now creates problems and distortions in the real estate market, along with the rapid development of short-term lease. For this reason and for the benefit of our tenants and fellow citizens, it is difficult for them to rent or buy a house, we significantly increase the limits on the acquisition of property by foreigners around the country and forbid them to use them for short term rental. I will continue with the results of the implementation of the digital work card, to tell you that 3500 employees have been paid on their due account by 250 businesses precisely because unpaid overtime has been detected through electronic control. It is proof that the digital card works for the worker and even the weakest. This year there are 20% more checks and they are targeted. Where more third-country citizens are employed, seasonal work and construction. All workers without any exception should be paid during working hours. The 5-day suspension for bullying in schools comes back. To get to the alarming levels of crime among minors, especially the rapid increase in bullying incidents, a phenomenon that is of course not only Greek, we see it all over Europe and around the Western world. It is very right that the Ministry of Education (except for the operation of the incident notification platform with surname complaints and the national anti-bullying campaign to begin in April) should also be changed in the context of consequences. To restore the 5-day suspension for bullying in schools as well as the separation of absences into unjustified and justified. At the same time, with regard to the perpetrator, there will now be the possibility of changing the school environment. Now, we go to Health: the decision on free preventive diagnostic tests for cervical cancer was published in the Government Journal as part of the implementation of the programme “Doxiadis Spiros”. Very soon the first sms and emails will be sent to the beneficiaries. These are 2.5 million Greek women, as well as women’s citizens of other countries who live legally in Greece, aged between 21 and 65, as long as they have an AMCA, regardless of whether they have active insurance capacity. The referral will be issued automatically and will be valid for 6 months. The corresponding breast cancer screenings saved many women diagnosed in time with suspicious findings and immediately began due treatment. One more thing that also concerns public health, the health of each and every one of us. It was set up by the relevant Ministry of National Nutrition Committee, with the participation of experts in the formation of a National Nutritional Policy, aimed at protecting and promoting public health at national level. The Commission will deliver an opinion on draft food legislation in relation to health. A change of model is needed in terms of health prevention and promotion. Changing the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of all of us about issues related to promoting physical exercise and healthy nutrition. I would remind you that Greece has a European lead in childhood obesity, and we must change that. I will continue with the new report by the Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe-GRECO which recognises Greece’s significant progress in tackling corruption. The GRECO Group shall examine the compliance of each country with its recommendations to limit corruption of political persons, judges and prosecutors. It therefore confirms that our country has taken further positive steps since 2018 in adopting the 19 recommendations made to us. In particular, it recognises that 13 of the 19 recommendations have been fully implemented (in 2018 fully implemented 6), partly 5 of the 19 recommendations (in 2018 partially implemented 7) and 1 recommendation has not yet been implemented (6 not implemented at all in 2018). Are we happy with this performance? Yeah, but we can and we need to get along even better. After all, only the valid reports of international organisations assessing the state of the rule of law reflect the reality and not the biased and unfair – not for the government but for Greece itself – attempts by some of the opposition to present another image of the country abroad. Coming to the end of today’s review and because we celebrate Greekness, I suggest you take advantage of the “Greek Film Day” the day after tomorrow, March 26. It is an action by the Greek Film Center to support Greek cinema, mainly outside the urban centres of Athens and Thessaloniki. With a ticket price of just €3, the public can see domestic productions of the last three years, feature and short films and documentary. Happy Sunday and happy birthday! “