“So far we have shown Ukraine our support in practice, however no movement is going to be made which will endanger the air defense of our country” replied the government representative Pavlos Marinakis, asked about a related Financial Times article.

In particular, the report talks about pressure being put on Greece and Spain by European Union and NATO allies to provide air defense systems to Ukraine, as Kiev prepares to demand more help at a meeting of foreign ministers in Strasbourg.

To the question, if Mr. Marinakis knows that this kind of pressure was applied to the Greek government, he replied that he does not know and that he sticks to the original answer.

For the Spartans, asked about the developments, he said that from now on the competent department of the Supreme Court will decide.

Regarding his candidacy Fred Beleris on the ND Euro-ballot, among other things, he said that much of what is heard has been disproved and that it is wrong to target him.

Regarding the ELAS operation and the arrests of 50 people regarding the death of the police officer in Rentis, the government representative emphasized that “it is not the government’s job to comment on this”, adding “Let us trust the police and justice. These cases take time. Police announcements will follow.”

The introductory statement of the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Government Representative Pavlos Marinakis:

“The “Godfather’s Basket” comes into effect from today until May 4, 2024, while the “Easter Basket” comes into effect from Wednesday, April 24, 2024 until May 4, 2024.

The “Easter Basket” is an extension of the “Household Basket”, as four new food categories are added, namely:

  • Lamb
  • Kid
  • Greek sweet bread
  • Easter chocolate eggs and related products

In the “Basket of the Godfathers” 12 product categories are included and consumers who are godparents or parents of small children are given the opportunity to make cheaper purchases during the Easter period.

In addition, the “Lent Basket” remains in force until May 4.

We support households in practice, as long as the imported inflationary crisis persists, so that every family table is filled with the necessary goods at the lowest possible prices. It is the primary concern of the Government to use any appropriate tool in order to be able to contain and reduce prices for the benefit of consumers.

At the same time, according to the Ministry of Development, after a check on 40 basic fruits and vegetables, reductions are found in 23 products, increases in 10, while prices remain stable in 7.

This downward trend proves that the interventions of the Government in the supply chain and more the intervention for the net price from the field to the shelf is bearing fruit.

Under this permanent measure, suppliers sell their products at net prices and a credit tariff of up to 3% is provided only for returns or product returns.

A little while ago, the Prime Minister, during his visit to the Vegetable Market of Rentis, pointed out: “At this juncture, these visits are of particular importance as the effort continues so that Greek consumers can enjoy quality products at reasonable prices.

We strive, with strict controls on the market and always in consultation with the entire supply chain, to be able to offer consumers products that will be at prices corresponding to or lower than last year’s.

The fight against accuracy, we have said many times that it is a constant fight. But for the first time, we have encouraging signs that persistent food inflation seems to be beginning to decline and, as I said, we now have a drop in prices, which is ultimately what is needed in order to relieve the average household.”

We continue our interventions in three axes, therefore:

First, in raising the incomes of all citizens by permanent measures,

Secondly, targeted interventions to boost citizens’ incomes with emergency measures whenever there is a need and

Third, with continuous controls in the supply chain with the aim of limiting the phenomena of speculation and unfair practices in the market.

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Once again, and indeed within a period of very few months, the Greek economy was upgraded by the rating agency Standard & Poor’s, which was the first to give Greece investment grade again last October.

S&P is now changing the economy’s “outlook” from stable to positive.

This upgrade is another proof that Greece’s efforts to improve our economy are taking place.

From what was once a “junk” economy, it is now an economy with unprecedented growth in exports, record foreign direct investment and growth rates five times the eurozone average.

Unemployment has decreased by 7% and in fact a significant decrease is observed in the unemployment of women and young people.

With the reforms of the Ministry of Labor that enabled pensioners to be employed without suffering the 30% “penalty”, more than 67,000 pensioners have been declared as workers.

According to DYPA data, last year more than 50,000 beneficiaries were employed through active policy programs, while in the current period the application process has begun for 7 total programs that expect 55,000 beneficiaries.

Despite the introduced inflationary crisis, the country’s economy is now on a new trajectory. These positive news are the basis on which the Government’s policy is built, which aims, with respect to public finances, to increase the incomes of all citizens.

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Today, a meeting of Greek and Turkish delegations on Confidence Building Measures is being held in Athens, at the Ministry of National Defense, following the previous meeting that took place on November 13 in Ankara.

The Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias held a formal meeting with the heads and members of the delegations a little while ago.

The two delegations are headed by Ambassador Theocharis Lalakos and Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Aktsapar. Senior and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the two countries are also participating.

—–

With new Joint Ministerial Decisions, the new rules that bring order to public property on the beaches, ensure citizens’ access to the sea and establish conditions of transparency in the concession of the coast and the beach, while protecting the environment, are specified.

Specifically:

– A Register of Beach and Beach Concession Agreements is created and the digital application “MyCoast” is created, through which citizens will be able to immediately submit complaints for exceeding concessions or for arbitrary beach occupation.

– The new procedure for conducting electronic auctions by the Real Estate Services for the concession of seafront and beach, with a starting price determined objectively, is foreseen.

– The obligations of the concessionaires for the service of the citizens, the safety of the beach and the guarantee of accessibility are defined in detail.

– Strict penalties are established for offenders, especially in cases of obstructing the public’s free access to the sea.

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Furthermore, the framework of absolute protection for 198 “Deceitable beaches” came into force.

Thus, it is prohibited to grant the right of simple use of the beach and beach, as well as any other action that may endanger their morphology and their integrity in terms of their ecological functions.

The protection of the environment combined with rational development is the aim of these arrangements. Therefore, a certain framework of activities is established that will allow the development and evolution of tourism and entrepreneurship, but not at the expense of the uniqueness of the Greek environment.

—-

With the aim of strengthening Greek Universities, the Ministry of Education issued an invitation for the “Internationalization of the educational services of HEIs”, with a budget of 62 million euros from the Recovery Fund for the organization of joint postgraduate study programs with reputable foreign universities.

The Invitation aims to boost the extroversion of Greek universities by strengthening their cooperation with well-established, well-known and prestigious university institutions abroad.

With such postgraduate programs, Greek universities will attract more students from abroad. At the same time, the wave of brain drain will be stopped, as fewer Greek students will seek postgraduate degrees in Universities abroad, since they will be able to attend them in their country, and at the same time, the prospect of the return of Greek scientists to our country is strengthened.

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Tomorrow, Tuesday 23 April, the Prime Minister will attend the event for the handover of the E65 motorway.

On Wednesday, April 24, the Prime Minister will attend the event of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection for the Presentation of the “AEGIS” Program.