“The year closes with positive news from the field of the economy and with important reform interventions that make us optimistic for a better 2024. I will have the opportunity to speak to major international investors tomorrow in London, about our country’s prospects” says the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the established weekly account of the government’s work that he posted on Facebook.

In detail, the Prime Minister’s message:

“Good morning to all. I have many things to tell you today, the last Sunday of November, realizing at the same time that we are now counting down to Christmas. The year closes with positive news from the field of the economy and with important reform interventions that make us optimistic for a better 2024. I will have the opportunity to speak to major international investors tomorrow in London, about the prospects of our country, inviting them to seize the excellent investment opportunities it presents.

I’ll start with him budget of 2024, not to analyze its details for you – they have already been presented. I will mention only some of its special features: it is the first after 14 years to be drawn up after the recovery of the investment grade, it includes increases in the salaries of Public Servants – the first since 2010 – it restores the “frozen” since 2012 three years of employees, and the place of extraordinary support measures is taken by permanent tax reductions that reach 1.6 billion euros as a counterweight to inflation. If we wanted to describe the new budget in one sentence, I would say that it is developmental, imbued with social sensitivity, but it does not stray from the rails of fiscal consistency.

This is also confirmed by the Commission’s estimates. In 2024, Greece is expected to have twice the growth rate of the Eurozone, lower inflation, higher employment growth and a faster decline in public debt and the government deficit.

A crucial tool to achieve all this is the Recovery Fund. During the week we submitted a request to Brussels to disburse €1.8 billion, the third tranche of cheap loans to businesses from the Fund, earlier than planned. In total, investment plans for the digital and green transformation of businesses that exceed 20 billion euros have been submitted to the banks!

Preceded by positive evaluation by the committee of the revised National Plan “Greece 2.0”. Revised as to what? It includes new investments and reforms aimed at the green transition and adaptation of our economy to climate change, with additional loans of 5 billion euros that will be directed to businesses and major projects. In total, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0” now exceeds 36 billion euros and is the largest in the EU in proportion to our population and GDP.

To go to those of Thessaly. One of the short-term measures we are taking – all extremely urgent, but I single this one out – is the establishment of a Special Body for the management of the waters of Thessaly, a major problem with which so far (hold on) 50 Water Improvement Organizations, 49 Local and one General. The creation of the Single Agency will be approved by the cabinet next Thursday.

As for the other measures now, in the next 24 hours the payment for 2 years of the rent and cohabitation allowance starts, while before Christmas 35% of the damage they suffered will be given as an advance to the businesses in the areas hit by Daniel. We will cover up to 70% of their losses. So far we have allocated €119.2m in compensation to almost 33,000 claimants, while in total more than €350m have been disbursed to affected citizens, farmers, businesses and local authorities. Significant amounts for the necessary first state aid and support, but also unprecedented in size and disbursement speed for the Greek state, thanks to the state aid mechanism we have created for 4 years.

This week the program platform was opened “Neighborhood Babysitters”, where parents interested in participating in the program can apply. I have written to you about this program in a previous post, when the platform was opened for those who wish to be curators to apply (which remains open to those who are interested). Now, parents of infants and toddlers from 2 months to 2.5 years old can apply to receive the program’s voucher. The amount of the voucher is 500 euros per month for full-time workers, freelancers and self-employed, and 300 euros for part-time or rotating workers or for mothers registered as unemployed in the DYPA unemployment register. The conditions for participation in the program are that the individual income does not exceed 24,000 euros per year and, of course, since the program is still a pilot, the residence address of the beneficiaries must be in one of the 62 municipalities where the “Neighborhood Babysitters” program is piloted ». We hope it will be successful, and expand to more and more municipalities!

I will now turn to the week’s rich legislative activity, starting with two bills dealing with spatial planning, environmental protection and sustainable development. The first, of the Ministry of Environment, which was voted on Friday, among other things, determines the framework for licensing and operation of data centers in GREECE. Data centers are one of the important modern economic activities. By attracting investments in this sector, our country will be able to emerge as a digital economy hub. Other provisions of the legislation? The owners of photovoltaic stations will have the obligation to plant and maintain plants compatible with the vegetation of the area, an urban planning and environmental levy is established for businesses with activities that have a strong environmental footprint and undeveloped plots in the Historic Center of Athens will be able to function as parking spaces , as a solution to the serious parking problem that the capital has.

The second bill that was put into consultation concerns its operation Hellenic Land Registry. Its regulations will solve the problem of 150,000 backlogs in real estate transfers, simplify and speed up real estate transfer procedures, thus reducing the burden of citizens with unnecessary costs when they want to make use of their property.

The bill for it has also made its way to a vote by the Parliament strengthening the protection of vulnerable borrowers with an improvement of the out-of-court mechanism and new strict transparency obligations from the management companies who, if they do not respond, will pay heavy fines. Thanks to our policy in the last 4 years bad loans have been reduced by 23 billion euros, the total overdue private debt to private and public entities has also been reduced from 68.3% to 61% of total private debt (of course we must to take further steps to reduce it further), while green informed loans have increased by 40 billion euros. We will do everything we can to stand by those borrowers who are in real need and support from the state with fair and effective solutions.

And finally, the bill for the complete reformation/improvement of the operation of the Professional Funds was put into consultation. It includes, as we promised, the abolition from the new year of the 30% pension cut, leaving it intact for working pensioners.

I often talk to you about the “little” things that make the difference. One such case is the Single Citizen Service Number of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, now known as 1555. In its 27 months of operation, it received almost 7,350,000 calls, with a waiting time of 9 seconds. Most of them were addressed to eEFKA, the Public Employment Service and OPECA. 99.65% of these calls were handled, a performance that proves that with good organization and the right tools, public services can perfectly fulfill their purpose, to facilitate citizens in their daily lives.

At least 12,000 calls were made regarding the Personal Assistant for People with Disabilities, a reform of crucial importance for the independent and quality living of people with disabilities, which is why its implementation is one of our main priorities at the Ministry of Social Cohesion & Family. I am doubly pleased because the institution of the Personal Assistant was a personal vision of mine and I see that it has begun to take root.

Let me explain: The 1,250 new beneficiaries have been drawn in every region of the country except Attica and the evaluation will soon be done by psychologists, social workers, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Argyro Lampara and her Personal Assistant, Alexandra, at the Acropolis Museum. I heard from Argyro herself what it means for her everyday life to have a person next to her, how much it allows her to be active and more independent. I listened attentively and kept her request that provision should be made to provide technological equipment to people with disabilities to operate computers with their eye movements.

I was also happy with another meeting I had a few days ago, this time with the group of students and graduates of four Greek universities who won the gold medal in the international synthetic biology competition iGEM, at the beginning of November in Paris with the participation of more than 400 groups. As they explained to me, their “golden” paper concerns an easy-to-use diagnostic test for Parkinson’s disease before the onset of severe motor symptoms, which are usually diagnosed clinically after the disease reaches an advanced stage. We can only feel pride for these children.

Let me take this opportunity to remind you that his platform will be open until December 5th Youth Pass for 150 euros. So far, 102,345 applications have been submitted by 18- and 19-year-olds, and we have the possibility for almost as many more, since the 30 million euros we allocated concern 200,000 beneficiaries, I remind you without property or other criteria. We estimate that the 150 euros will be credited before mid-December and can be used for cultural, tourism and transport services.

I close today’s review with the new landmark acquired by Athens, on Phrynicho Street, a great contribution of the Onassis Foundation to the Greek capital and to Greek culture. It is the Athenian “home” of Constantinos Cavafy, the permanent “residence” for the poet’s archive, library and personal belongings, a small ark of knowledge and evidence that I will visit at the first opportunity. I constantly keep in my mind the verses of the great Alexandrinos: “Always keep Ithaca in mind. Getting there is your destination.” For me, Ithaca is how to make Greece better for everyone, without leaving anyone behind.

Thank you for your time and attention. Have a good Sunday!”