Mitsotakis announces intervention on heating oil prices and allowance

‘In the coming days, we will announce a significant intervention by the government and the refineries on heating oil, so that the opening price is below €1.75 a litre, lower than the level at which last year’s heating season ended. At the same time, we are proceeding with an across-the-board increase in the heating allowance, not only for those who use oil but also for households heated by other forms of energy,’ the prime minister said.

‘We are also extending the diesel subsidy throughout October. Of course, even if a government has fiscal reserves, the scale of the problem makes European intervention necessary, something I continue to insist on. If the European Union allows extraordinary national interventions without these being counted towards expenditure limits, we could also consider a temporary reduction in fuel taxes,’ he added.

Referring to the opposition’s position on constitutional reform, Mitsotakis said: ‘And yet, we have seen forces that define themselves as serious and responsible refuse to support even changes with which they essentially agree or which they have included in their own programme.’

‘The opposition obviously has every right to submit its own proposals. This is democracy. However, when you declare that Article 16 must be changed, that ministerial responsibility needs a different approach and that the judiciary must be better safeguarded, you cannot at the same time choose to vote “present” and make every change more difficult. That is exactly what happened. It is an approach that falls short of the circumstances,’ he added.

The prime minister’s full post

‘As you read this review, it is 10am in Greece. The day has just changed in San Francisco. So, technically, you already know more about Sunday than I do. Good morning, or good night, depending on which side of the Atlantic you are looking at it from. I am here, where, among other things, I will be meeting with leading high-tech companies before heading to New York for the UN General Assembly. But let’s get to the news of the week.

‘I will start with two pieces of good news for the Greek economy. In just 24 hours, Moody’s upgraded our country’s outlook, while Scope upgraded its credit rating. I wrote yesterday that these two upgrades are yet another confirmation of the progress our economy has made in recent years, and especially of the distance we have travelled since Greece was below investment grade and borrowing on much less favourable terms.

‘I understand that all of this may sound somewhat technical, but it matters because the more reliable the country is considered, the more cheaply it can borrow, the easier it is to attract investment and the greater the potential for economic growth. And this, at the end of the day, means more jobs, better wages and more resources for health, education and the welfare state.

‘The country has changed and continues to change, and this is not just about the economy. One of the next major steps is constitutional reform, which we discussed in parliament this week. It is an issue that, under normal circumstances, should unite us more than divide us, because it does not concern a government or an opposition, but the rules by which the country will operate for many years.

‘And yet, we have seen forces that define themselves as serious and responsible refuse to support even changes with which they essentially agree or which they have included in their own programme. The opposition obviously has every right to submit its own proposals. This is democracy. However, when you declare that Article 16 must be changed, that ministerial responsibility needs a different approach and that the judiciary must be better safeguarded, you cannot at the same time choose to vote “present” and make every change more difficult.

‘That is exactly what happened. It is an approach that falls short of the circumstances. Citizens, however, see and judge. And I hope that in the next parliament this opportunity will not be lost, but will compel everyone to act with greater responsibility towards the country.

‘I now turn to the issue of rising prices. In the coming days, we will announce a significant intervention by the government and the refineries on heating oil, so that the opening price is below €1.75 a litre, lower than the level at which last year’s heating season ended.

‘At the same time, we are proceeding with an across-the-board increase in the heating allowance, not only for those who use oil but also for households heated by other forms of energy. The greatest support will continue to go to areas where needs are greater because of climatic conditions.

‘We are also extending the diesel subsidy throughout October. Of course, even if a government has fiscal reserves, the scale of the problem makes European intervention necessary, something I continue to insist on. If the European Union allows extraordinary national interventions without these being counted towards expenditure limits, we could also consider a temporary reduction in fuel taxes.

‘After all, this is not the first time Greece has raised an issue in Europe that goes beyond its national borders. We are already seeing this in the effort to protect children from the dangers of digital addiction and social media. Our country has taken the lead in this discussion.

‘With KidsWallet, we created a functional age-verification mechanism and raised early on the need for a common European “digital age of majority”. It is important that the European Commission’s proposal now adopts this basic principle: independent social media accounts from the age of 15 onwards, with stricter restrictions for younger children, but also greater responsibility on the part of the platforms. It is a very important message at a time when warnings about the potential risks of artificial intelligence have multiplied.

‘On migration, too, our positions are being vindicated and heard. At European level, I was pleased to hear the president of the European Commission announce that she will propose a European emergency response mechanism in cases of large-scale and instrumentalised migration flows, as happened in Evros in 2021 and recently in Ceuta.

‘It is a proposal I had already put forward in early August in my article in Politico. Because when a member state comes under such pressure at its borders, it is not merely defending its own borders. It is defending Europe’s borders. And Europe must have a common response ready.

‘I should also say that the Council of State has ruled that the mandatory registration of NGOs in the Ministry of Migration and Asylum’s register, as well as scrutiny of their financial data, is constitutional. It is a significant victory for transparency, oversight and accountability. Anyone operating in such a sensitive field cannot do so without rules and oversight.

‘I am changing the subject completely and moving, mentally this time, to Kastellorizo, the easternmost point of Greece and the European Union, where last Sunday we presented a comprehensive plan comprising 37 projects of strategic importance.

‘Among them, I would single out the permanent annual income incentive of €5,000 for all residents and civil servants, members of the security forces and the Armed Forces. I believe this is a practical way of supporting those who choose to live and serve in a place with considerable difficulties but also great importance for the country.

‘The effort to strengthen the regions concerns islands, mountainous areas, small towns and villages that need better infrastructure, services and more opportunities. In practice, this means giving people the opportunity to stay, return or choose to build their lives there while feeling secure.

‘In Psara, for example, the new Multipurpose Regional Clinic, worth €2.1 million, responds to the obvious need that no one, regardless of where they live, should feel deprived of quality healthcare and care services.

‘In Porto Germeno, which was severely affected by the major fire in August, anti-erosion and flood-prevention works worth €2 million have already begun, with Piraeus Bank as contractor. The aim is for the critical interventions to be completed before the heavy autumn and winter rainfall.

‘The works cover 4,189 stremmata and 10 streams, with the cooperation of the state, local government and the Forest Service. At the same time, we are providing 12 months of relief to citizens and businesses affected by the fires of July and August, suspending enforcement proceedings against their movable or immovable property, with the exception of maintenance claims, for those officially certified as affected and included in state aid, housing assistance or household goods compensation schemes.

‘At the core of our strategy, however, lies the bigger picture of the country’s digital and productive transformation. Greece is entering the global data-centre landscape more dynamically than ever, thanks to the agreement between PPC and Amazon Web Services for the creation of one of the largest data centres in Western Macedonia, in Agios Dimitrios.

‘It is a significant investment that will bring new, well-paid jobs, allowing young scientists to remain in their region. Since I am referring to investment, I should also note that our country has the best performance in the European Union in terms of evaluation times for investment projects, now completing them within 45 to 90 days.

‘Through the new development law, we have already approved 928 investment projects with a total budget of €3.1 billion, with public support reaching €1.5 billion, creating the conditions for at least 15,000 high-productivity jobs.

‘On Thursday, we had the pleasure of officially inaugurating the country’s most modern sports park, the Ellinikon Sports Park, which will be enjoyed not only by residents of the municipalities bordering Elliniko but by people from across Attica.

‘Across an area of 200 stremmata, with football, basketball, athletics and tennis facilities, athletes and clubs will be able to train, as well as families with children and people of all ages who want to exercise, walk or spend time outdoors. It is the first major project of the Ellinikon regeneration to become part of citizens’ everyday lives, and we are very proud of it.

‘We are also proud of our athletes for their impressive performance at the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto. Greece won 71 medals, 26 gold, 26 silver and 19 bronze, finishing third overall among 27 countries for the first time. Many congratulations to them, their coaches and the federations.

‘And since we are talking about sport, the “Sports for All” programmes are continuing this year for children, adults, older people, people with disabilities and socially vulnerable groups. A total of 115 municipalities have already responded, with 829 physical education graduates delivering 6,584 approved programmes, in which an estimated 150,000 people will participate.

‘I will close with something beautiful for Athens. The major archaeological site of Kerameikos has once again been opened to the city’s residents and visitors, fully upgraded and accessible to people with mobility and visual impairments.

‘New routes have been created, ancient remains have been uncovered and 1,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, while the new exit at Agion Asomaton provides access for the first time to the sarcophagus of Philotera, one of the most important Roman-era funerary monuments at Kerameikos.

‘A project that had remained pending for years has been completed with funding from the Recovery Fund. Together with the Pnyx, the Ancient Agora, the Acropolis and the National Garden, Kerameikos makes Athens a little more open, more accessible and more beautiful.

‘If you have time, include it in your walk today. Have a nice day.’

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