The government representative mentioned the European Commission’s report on the Rule of Law in Greece Pavlos Marinakis during the briefing of the political editors, characterizing it as extremely positive and noting that it is a resounding response to those who systematically attempt with fake news to slander Greece abroad.

He also announced that the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is going to Paris today to attend the opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games.

“In no way are we going to recognize something that we have denounced”, was the response of the government representative to the provocative statements of the Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidanthat nothing is going to change in relation to the Turkish-Libyan memorandum and that it is a problem of other countries and not of Turkey.

Regarding reports from the Turkish Ministry of Defense that the Italian research vessel was allegedly blocked by ships off Kasos, Mr. Marinakis clarified that the ship completed its mission without a problem. “Greece does not negotiate sovereignty issues,” added Mr. Marinakis, and emphasized that everything was done without any disturbance of the acquired rights.

Mr. Marinakis’ introductory statement in detail

“Greece’s assessment in the European Commission’s Report on the Rule of Law is extremely positive. It is particularly important that the Commission recognizes our country’s response to each of the recommendations that the Commission made in its last year’s Report. It also welcomes the emblematic legislative intervention ensuring the participation of the Judiciary itself in the selection of its leadership.

In fact, in the conclusions of this year’s Report:

– The steps for the digitization of justice, the increase in efficiency and the speed of its delivery are recognized, for example through the revision of the Judicial Charter of the country and the Regulation of the Council of State.

– The priority that Greece has given to the utilization of the Recovery and Resilience Program is underlined.

– The further progress of our country in the field of fighting corruption is recognized. In this direction, the completeness of the legislation on how to proceed is highlighted, as well as the measures to strengthen transparency and integrity in public procurement procedures.

– It is particularly encouraging for us that the Commission highlights the steps forward in the field of the Media concerning the strengthening of their administrative and legislative framework, the strengthening of transparency around their ownership status as well as the protection of freedom of speech and of the journalistic operation from malicious lawsuits, which will be further strengthened after the recent abolition of the offense of simple defamation from the Criminal Code.

– Equally important is the progress made in improving the legislative process.

– Finally, the further positive steps noted in the cooperation of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum with Civil Society Organizations are highlighted.

The Report records a series of recommendations as well as observations, which constitute a road map for prioritizing interventions in specific policy areas. Our country’s response and the progress made on this year’s recommendations vindicates the government’s efforts for more transparency, state flexibility, faster administration of justice and protection of press freedom.”

“The results of the report are the best and most resounding response to those who systematically attempt to slander Greece abroad with fake news. We still have many steps to take in order to realize our goals and continue to steadily improve the quality of our Republic, 50 years after its restoration,” the government representative emphasized.

Also, the government representative underlined that the revised table of irreversible diseases of the Disability Certification Centers, and thus with this reform, the practice of submitting to repeated certification of our fellow citizens who suffer from specific ailments is stopped, while the administrative burden for KEPAs is also reduced.

“In this way, the sufferers secure for life the allowances and benefits provided for by the legislation. The revision of the list of irreversible diseases is a constant request of organizations and citizens, and it is finally being implemented.

We also remind you that 700 new doctors have been added to staff the KEPA committees, with their number more than doubling from 500 to 1,200, while, at the same time, their salaries have also increased by 50%.

Supporting our fellow citizens with disabilities, facilitating their daily lives with simple but important actions such as the re-evaluation of irreversible diseases and digital KEPAs, constitute for the government an important task and a sacred mission,” he said.

He also said that with a Joint Ministerial Decision of the Ministries of National Economy and Finance and Social Cohesion and Family, the arrangements of the extrajudicial mechanism for persons with disabilities.

“Now, people with a disability rate of more than 67% will be included in the category of vulnerable debtors with increased limits in the income and property criteria. Thus, they will benefit from the provision of the Law on Vulnerable Debtors which stipulates the automatic and mandatory acceptance by banks and the State of their debt restructuring proposal under the Extrajudicial Mechanism. Furthermore, vulnerable debtors will be able to benefit from more favorable settlement terms with financial institutions. With this arrangement we provide a horizontal solution to a sensitive and complex problem. We add a necessary and fair provision to the law, always in close cooperation with the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (ESAmeA). Fully integrated in the spirit, but also in the letter of the strategy for people with disabilities, we are adding another very important tool to protect their dignified living” he said.

In addition, he noted that following the show of great interest from businesses for its employment program DOUBLE in the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, they increased by 1,000 new jobs availablereaching a total of 2,000.

“The purpose of the action is to create full-time jobs for the recruitment of the unemployed in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The grant covers up to 70% of the salary and contributions for 12 months, with the possibility of extension for another 12.

The program is aimed at private companies operating in this Region and has a budget of 28,600,000 euros,” he said.

“In addition, tomorrow Friday, July 26, the electronic submission of applications for admission to the 30 Higher Vocational Training Schools of DYPA, for the year 2024-2025, in 41 specialties with high demand in the labor market will begin.

Through the increase of investments, the strengthening of businesses and through the programs of DYPA, we continue with determination our goal for more and more and better paid jobs. The training offered by the DYPA schools meet this goal by providing resources to our unemployed fellow citizens and indeed in specialties that are in high demand in the labor market.

Unemployment in our country in recent years has decreased by almost 8% and 400,000 new jobs have been created, of which 310,000, according to the data, are better paid than in the past. We continue in this direction with the aim of approaching the European average” he added.

Mr. Marinakis after mentioning that the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Staikouras presented to the Parliament a draft law on the refinancing that is being promoted for the amendment of the concession contract Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki-Evzoni highway and specifically for the Male – Key section. “The benefit that the State will obtain from the refinancing, which according to current calculations amounts to 14 million euros, is expected to be allocated to toll reductions on a section of the Aegean highway. This benefit will flow as public revenue into the state budget within August.”

Finally, he mentioned that the European Commission announced the disbursement from the Recovery and Resilience Fund of 2.3 billion euros to Greece, following the successful completion of the 4th payment request from the loan arm of the “Greece 2.0” National Plan. “With today’s disbursement, the European resources that have entered the country from the Fund now amount to 17.2 billion euros. The disbursement came as a result of reaching the objective of contractualization of loan resources of the Recovery Fund amounting to 4.52 billion euros. It should be noted that 166 of the total contracted loans, i.e. 50% of the total, have been granted to small and medium enterprises, with a total budget approaching 2 billion euros,” he said.

“Consistent with our plan and commitments, with determination and fiscal seriousness, we continue the development and reform effort, with the aim of growing the economy that creates new and more jobs and therefore, increases the disposable income for all our fellow citizens” added Mr. Marinakis.