“Another step of recognition for the sacrifices of the Greek citizens and their trust in a cost-effective plan that manages public finances, supports development and creates new and better-paid jobs is the annual assessment of Economist“, said the government representative Pavlos Marinakis starting to inform political editors.

“Despite the international liquidity and its side effects in stronger economies, for the third consecutive year Greece is ranked by the Economist in the top three among 37 countries in terms of the performance of the economy in five indicators: GDP growth, inflation, unemployment, fiscal balance, stock market values. In 2022 and 2023, our country was at the top of the relevant ranking, while the measurable results of the persistent efforts made for one more year maintain the strong position of the Greek economy, which has the third best performance together with Denmark,” stressed Mr. Marinakis.

According to the government representative, “we are walking on the right path”, in which we will continue with political stability as a weapon “to definitively heal the wounds of the economic crisis and to achieve as quickly as possible the convergence of Greek incomes in relation to European ones” .

He then referred to an event held at the Ministry of Climate Change and Civil Protection in which Minister Vassilis Kikilias presented the assessment of the fire fighting season. “The data show that despite this year’s very difficult weather conditions and the large number of fire starts, the total burned areas were 13.67% less compared to the average of the last 20 years. The most impressive element, however, concerns the burned forests: While in the last 20 years, the average was at 117,858 hectares, this year it reached 27,756 hectares. In other words, a reduction of burned forests by 76.45% was recorded.

Mr. Marinakis emphasized that “in no case, however, can we say that, from the moment even one fire escapes, we are satisfied. We don’t stop here, but continue the hard work, as the rapidly developing climate crisis leaves absolutely no room for complacency, with the aim of being better and better prepared in every fire fighting season”.

The announcement of the state aid framework measures to support areas affected by the bad weather “Bora” by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, in cooperation with all the ministries involved and following relevant recommendations of the Government Committee on State Aid, was the next topic of the briefing . “The echelons of the General Directorate for Rehabilitation of the Effects of Natural Disasters proceeded to carry out checks and autopsies in the field of the affected areas, with the work of the first basic phase of autopsies and records completed. Now, during the second phase, the levels of the General Directorate are in cooperation with the Municipalities for the routing of autopsies, after sending data from the Municipalities to the General Directorate, but also after consultation with the owners”, said Mr. Marinakis and referred in detail to the measures being launched.

He added that “in the near future, new interventions will be announced with the aim of streamlining the action, an action essential to support our islanders and strengthen island entrepreneurship. The planned improvements will further enhance its social and economic footprint.”

And he noted that the contract was signed for the construction of the Patras recycling unit that will serve the Municipalities of Achaia, in accordance with the Regional Waste Management Plan of Western Greece.

According to Mr. Marinaki, tomorrow, Friday, December 13, the Governmental National Security Council will meet under the Prime Minister at Megaros Maximos at 10:00. Also, tomorrow at 18:00 Kyriakos Mitsotakis will attend the conference organized by the BHMA in collaboration with the International Relations Council and the Delphi Economic Forum on the course of Greek foreign policy in the 50 years of the Post-colonial era and will hold a discussion on ” The Vision of Greece for the Next Fifty Years” with Yiannis Pretenderis. On Sunday, December 15, the Prime Minister will address the Plenary of Parliament in the debate on the State Budget 2025.