He refers to postal voting, the recovery of investment grade, his meeting with Tayyip Erdoğan, health issues, the Cyprus-Crete electrical interconnection, energy and accounts in his Sunday report. government project the Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
In detail, the role of the Prime Minister is as follows:
“Good morning everyone! Upon returning from New York, where I was at the UN General Assembly, I want to share a few things with you, starting with the diaspora’s eternal love for the country. Talking to them, they expressed their joy at having been able – for the first time – vote for me vote by correspondenceeven in the European elections. They want it and we want them to have this possibility in national elections too. I am certain, as I told you, that once the process has been successfully organized, no party will refuse – because 200 votes are needed in Parliament – to grant the right to those living abroad to vote without having to go to the Embassy or Consulate or return. to Greece, as has been the case until now.
I maintain the great interest of international investors, companies, organizations and banks in Greece, following the recovery of investment grade. I invited them to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in a country like ours with political stability, a broad reform plan, dynamic growth with fiscal responsibility and rapid absorption of Recovery Fund resources. Due to all these characteristics, we are witnessing what was unthinkable until a few years ago, the trading of Greek 5-year bonds on the markets with an interest rate lower than that of the French counterpart – 2.44% Greek, 2.50% French, while we spectacularly reduce the difference in yield with the German 10 years.
I also consider it important to include two issues of Greek interest
eron – maritime security and cultural protection 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 play an active role in negotiations 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 the president Erdoganon the 6th within a year. Once again, the fact that we argue does not mean that we agree on everything. Greece does not even enter into the process of discussing the recognition of a pseudo-state, nor are we apparently considering questions of sovereignty and sovereign rights. We agreed on closer cooperation on immigration and a new meeting of the Supreme Cooperation Council in early 2025.
I may have been to New York, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have news to tell you about government work, because government activity never stops! We are solving an important social issue. Workers who become entitled to a disability pension will be able to receive their pension without interruption from work, as is the case today. In other words, the “jobs or state support” 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 out for 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.
Remember that the Personal Doctor is a free offer for all citizens, who obtain a personal health advisor for issues of health education, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and guidance on serious health problems. It is the citizen’s first contact with the healthcare system and is responsible for prevention, carrying out exams, updating individual electronic health records, prescribing medications and referring specialist doctors for exams.
Precisely because we believe in the institution of the Personal Doctor, for the first time a financial incentive of 40,000 euros is given at the level of gross remuneration to young doctors, to choose in the year 2025 to train in the specialties of General/Family Medicine or Internal Pathology . At the same time, always focusing on the effort to reduce inequalities in access to healthcare, we established the Personal Pediatrician. In the first phase, around 530,000 children will have free access for the first time. The project is complemented with the creation of 7 University Health Centers, one in each Faculty/Department of Medicine in the country, where teachers will work. Telemedicine Points will operate in these, while within the scope of the Telemedicine Network there will be 3,500 home care points across the country. Thus, wherever they live in the country, patients will be able to receive care at home with uninterrupted medical monitoring 24 hours a day.
I now continue with another bill that was presented 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 with Municipalities or their legal entities in up to 60 installments or through extrajudicial settlement, while the most vulnerable will be exempt from surcharges of up to 95%. Furthermore, the local administration will receive 200 million euros in 2024 to cover its operating costs and overdue debts, but I remind you that from 2025 the financing 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 administration’s actions. And, finally, fines increase for the arbitrary use of public common areas. Pedestrians and especially people with disabilities cannot and should not have difficulties in their movements.
I move on to good news, as the agreement between Greece and Cyprus for the Cyprus-Crete electrical interconnection has been finalized, a project worth 2 billion euros, of strategic importance for Cyprus, for Greece, but also for the entire Union European. Not only will it connect Cyprus to the European 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 long and laborious, as would be expected for such large and complex investments, but we managed to overcome the thorny issues to launch the famous Cape, in whose implementation France is also involved.
I remain on the energy side to tell you that the financing of the “Alexandroupolis Independent Natural Gas System” project was approved by the European Commission with 202 million euros through the QREN. The commissioning of the Alexandroupolis LNG Terminal is scheduled for October 1st. The Commission’s decision constitutes a recognition of the importance of the project, which will reinforce Greece’s role and prospects as an energy transport platform throughout the region, but also as a source of the country’s energy supply with natural gas.
The fair Greece that citizens – rightly – demand also means that no one is above the law! The Panhellenic Taxi Federation was given plenty of time to receive and distribute to its members special signage informing customers that it is also mandatory to accept payments via POS. Refusal practically means violating the provisions of the law. Within the next 5 weeks, taxi professionals should have fulfilled their obligation, receive – at no cost to you – the special marking and stick it in a visible place on the vehicle, as is the case in many other European countries! We cannot want to become an à la carte Europe. Anyone who fails to meet this deadline will have to pay a fine of 1,000 euros.
Implementation of the AEGIS program continues at a rapid pace. A few days ago, the contract was signed for 414 new fire engines that meet all types of operational needs of the Fire Department. The 160 will have been received before the start of the next fire protection season and in August of next year they will have reached 235. This year’s official count will be done, of course, but we can now point out that in the most difficult fire and meteorological situations in climate conditions over the last 40 years, we have dealt with 4,500 fires and burned 24% fewer hectares than the 20-year average.
True to our commitment to reduce taxes, this week we corrected it with my own intervention and a misstep that rightly caused a negative reaction. We abolish the tax on boats up to seven meters in length, as these boats are not actually used for recreational purposes, nor are they associated with a life of luxury to be taxed. On the contrary, they are mainly exploited in the context of recreational fishing. The beneficiaries of the agreement are estimated to number in the tens of thousands. This is a retroactive regulation and small vessel owners who have already paid the tax will be refunded.
I end with the honorable invitation addressed to Greece for the recent G7 Culture Ministers Summit in Naples. It is the first time that our country has been invited to participate in this Summit and, in fact, together with two economic superpowers, Brazil and India! It may be known, but it is important when one recognizes at such a level what the host of the Synod, the Minister of Culture of Italy, said that the entire European edifice and the edifice of Western civilization rests on Greece.
I hope you found something interesting in this review. We renew our meeting for next Sunday!”