By Penelope Galliou

The last meeting of the Council of Ministers before Easter is called this morning at 11 by the Prime Minister, where, in addition to the series of bills that will be put on the floor, the relevant instructions “to seafarers” are expected to be given in view of the Easter holidays and the visits that will be carried out by the government officials in the regions throughout Greece.

This year’s Easter period, as it coincides with the pre-election period of the European elections, acquires a particular political weightnot only for the candidates who are already plowing the country from one end to the other, but also for the entire ND government and party apparatus, who have shouldered the burden of assistance in the pre-election campaign.

In this context, the prime minister is expected to give the latest guidelines to his current ministers for the planning and coordination of their actions, during the Holy days of Easter, in the regions that have been “charged”. After all, twelve top Ministers have the “high supervision” and will “run” together with the deputies of the region and also the local party officials, the pre-election campaign of the blue party in the respective district that each of them has undertaken. Certain regions, the Maximos Palace knows, are facing specific difficulties for the ruling party and for this reason it is taking its top executives “on the streets” with specific obligations and ultimately with a measurable result after the opening of the ballot box for the areas of responsibility their.

The bonus of civil servants

Of the bills that will be discussed in the Council of Ministers, that of the Ministry of the Interior stands out for the incentive and reward system of public servants. This is a legislative regulation that comes to be added to the increases given from January 1, 2024 to the salaries of public servants and is another step to increase their incomes, based on specific criteria.

According to the information, the new bill will provide the sponsorship of productivity bonuses horizontally in the public sector, in order to act as an additional incentive for increasing the productivity of public servants and functionaries but also for the practical recognition and reward of those who systematically try and have performance in their work and work. Consequently, the bonus in question is expected to be inextricably linked to the target setting and evaluation system of civil servants and its validity is expected from 2025.

The entire agenda of the Council of Ministers

The subjects of the meeting of the Council of Ministers are:

  • Presentation by the Minister of State Akis Schertsos of the National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities 2024-2030,
  • Presentation by the Minister of Rural Development and Food Lefteris Avgenakis of the legislative initiatives: a) Interprofessional organizations, b) Management and protection of properties of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food,
  • Presentation by the Minister of the Interior Niki Kerameos and Deputy Minister Vivi Charalambogianni of the bill for the incentive and reward system of public servants,
  • Presentation by the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis and the Deputy Minister Nikos Papathanasis of the bill for the new Development Program of Public Investments,
  • Presentation by the Minister of Justice Giorgos Floridis of the bill on the procedure of the Council of State,
  • Presentation by the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni regarding the Donation Agreement for the financing on behalf of Spyridon and Dorothy Latsis of the preparation of studies for the upgrade and expansion of the building that houses the National Archaeological Museum,
  • Presentation by the Minister of Development Kostas Skrekas of the bill for the implementation measures of Regulation 2023/2411 regarding the protection of geographical indications of handicraft and industrial products,
  • Presentation by the Minister of Education, Religion and Sports Kyriakos Pierrakakis and the Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogiannis of their Ministries’ fundraising bills,
  • Proposal by the Minister of Environment and Energy Theodoros Skylakakis for the approval of River Basin Management Plans.