21 September 2025

The initiation of the process for delimiting the Exclusive Economic Zone between Greece and Libya, and the decision of the Greek government to proceed with acquiring a fourth Belharra frigate, occupied Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his Sunday Facebook post.

The Prime Minister also referred to government initiatives in the fields of Labor, Social Security, Education, and Health, while speaking about the establishment of a new, strict framework for controls on subsidies for investment projects.

Specifically, he stated:

*”Good morning. Another week has passed with significant initiatives. I will start today’s review with the two major developments concerning the exercise of the country’s sovereign rights and the strengthening of its defense amid the unpredictable geopolitical turbulence we are experiencing. I first refer to the initiation of the process for delimiting the Exclusive Economic Zone between Greece and Libya. The first meeting of the technical committees has already taken place here in Athens, and the next meeting will be held in Tripoli. We still have a long way to go before reaching an agreement, but this is a positive development for Greece in relation to our neighboring country. The path to broader regional stability passes through agreements between genuine neighboring countries, based on International Law, and not through arbitrary and baseless memoranda. The start of the delimitation process with Libya comes just a few days after the formal announcement of American Chevron’s participation in the international tender for the four offshore blocks south of Crete and the Peloponnese, and the clear recognition by the USA of Greece’s energy and geopolitical significance in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The second development concerns the purchase of the 4th state-of-the-art Belharra frigate. The relevant bill of the Ministry of National Defense has already been submitted to Parliament. The new frigate ‘Themistoklis,’ together with ‘Kimon’ – which, barring unforeseen circumstances, we will receive around the end of 2025 – ‘Nearchos,’ and ‘Formion,’ will dramatically upgrade the operational capabilities of our Navy. I will repeat this for those in the opposition who react to the country’s defense strengthening with false dilemmas: defense is also a pillar of prosperity. Without security, there are no conditions for economic development, nor for the forging of social cohesion. Likewise, only with resilient public finances and fiscal robustness can we achieve effective national defense.

Now let’s move to three pieces of good news from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The labor market continues to show positive results, and the data indicate that our strategy is paying off. Six months ago, we enacted a law abolishing the additional social security contributions on overtime, extra work, holidays, and night shifts. Results: during the first four months of implementation, earnings from overtime and extra work increased by 48%, and contribution revenues by 34% compared to the same period in 2024. For the same period, earnings from night shifts and holidays increased by 31%, with contribution revenues showing a 43% increase. This demonstrates that a consistent policy of reducing contributions improves compliance, increasing both business adherence to the law and workers’ incomes. A win-win for everyone.

The second piece of good news is that last Friday and Saturday, the 45th ‘Career Days’ event of the Public Employment Service was held in Thessaloniki with great success. The response exceeded all expectations: over 6,000 job seekers participated, having the opportunity to meet with 100 companies seeking human resources.

Finally, last week e-EFKA took another step in its digital transformation, launching the DASHBOARD-myEFKA and the myEFKAmobile application. For the first time, each insured person has a complete view of their insurance history on a single screen, while also being able, with just a few clicks, to update their information, issue certificates, and track applications, benefits, or payments. We have made significant progress in digital governance. Every new tool removes some daily hassle. So we continue.

Progress, however, is not only visible in the indicators and applications. It is mainly evident in citizens’ daily lives, especially the most vulnerable. A program that makes a real difference and of which we are proud as a government is the free home delivery of high-cost medicines, launched by EOPYY in mid-June. We estimate that about 10,000 home deliveries are executed each month, and so far, over 83,000 deliveries of medications have been carried out, including shipments to regional facilities. As Giannis, one of the program’s beneficiaries I recently met, told me, it is a substantial help in his daily life. Currently, patients with chronic illnesses and mobility difficulties are being served. Soon, the program will expand so that these medications can also be delivered by local pharmacies. We didn’t reinvent the wheel. It is one of those acts I like to call ‘revolutionary commonsense.’ All eligible beneficiaries interested in trying this new service can visit the platform https://fyk.eopyy.gov.gr or call 18181.

As with the next initiative, the Mobile Health Units, we are providing solutions to needs that until yesterday remained unanswered. The MHUs started last February from Ormenio, the northernmost village of the country, offering home health services even in the most remote communities. Our goal is clear: every citizen, wherever they live, should have access to prevention and quality care. In the last few days alone, the teams visited villages in Xanthi, Rhodope, and Evros, conducting over 180 preventive examinations and more than 30 home visits to the elderly and mobility-impaired individuals. With telemedicine, doctors can monitor patients and make diagnoses remotely, without the hassle of traveling. The MHUs’ activities will continue in the coming weeks in 83 mountain villages of Thrace and, from October, expand nationwide. In this way, the National Health System does not wait for the citizen. It reaches the citizen, wherever they are. We are building a healthcare system that reduces inequalities and supports those in need with respect.

As the school year has started – and soon the academic year as well – let’s move to education. For the first time, university freshmen transfers will be completed by the first ten days of October, nearly one and a half months earlier than in previous academic years. Access codes for the relevant university application services will be provided by September 22. This allows families to plan better, avoiding unnecessary moving expenses or rents, while students will have time to adapt to their new environment without hassle. At the same time, universities can organize their educational programs more efficiently from the start of the semester. This change demonstrates in practice that care for young people and their families is not just words.

We equally support vocational education, not only with upgraded studies but also with paid workplace learning, whether in the public or private sector. Graduates of Vocational, Model, and Special Vocational High Schools can now attend a post-secondary apprenticeship year, developing their skills while receiving 95% of the legal minimum wage of an unskilled worker, regardless of age. They are entitled to 12 days of regular leave, have full insurance counting toward their pension, and upon completion and successful certification, they upgrade their diploma to level 5. Applications are open until 23/9 on the platform e-mathiteia.minedu.gov.gr. This year, the highest number of positions ever has been secured, nearly 14,000, 7 out of 10 in the private sector. Upgrading technical and vocational education was a central commitment and a personal vision of mine: to stop being considered the ‘poor relative’ of Higher Education and to emerge as a strong professional path opening prospects for stable and well-paid careers.

In the effort to make education accessible to all, an important initiative became reality: the operation of the first Vocational High School in the Larissa prisons. For the first time, adult inmates can attend a proper study program and acquire recognized vocational certification, preparing for reintegration into society. Until now, the existing Second Chance School was limited to fragmented or remote solutions, without teachers, classrooms, infrastructure, or qualification recognition. Now, 22 students have started the first-grade classes at the new Vocational High School. We have fulfilled our obvious obligation to provide the right to education to every citizen, wherever they are. The 8th Vocational High School of Larissa is just the beginning.

Shifting focus, the launch of 24-hour public transport in Athens last Saturday showed that the measure was well received, with over 55,000 ticket validations on STASY and OSY. To make the additional 55 Metro and 30 tram routes possible, 287 staff members worked – a total of 339 employees contributed to implementing the new service, and we thank them. We will also review how it went yesterday – the second consecutive Saturday – always prioritizing passenger safety. It is also noteworthy that throughout the night, beyond the regular presence of the Hellenic Police, 18 specialized officers were added, conducting targeted patrols at stations, trains, and routes.

Another important initiative is the new digital platform report.oasa.gr. Through this, every passenger can easily report problems encountered on Athens’ public transport – from delays to cleanliness issues. Importantly, the reports are no longer lost, but receive responses within a few days.

And since we are talking about safe mobility, I should mention that the new Road Traffic Code is now in effect, with stricter provisions for dealing with violating drivers, especially in cases of recidivism. Penalties in such cases are significantly increased, not only financially but also administratively, from license suspension to criminal prosecution, depending on severity and consequences. Bloodshed on the roads cannot continue. Unfortunately, many still ignore the danger, both to themselves and others. In the last week alone, 2,600 fines were issued for not wearing helmets. I appeal for responsible driving behavior. It saves lives.

Changing topic entirely, let’s talk about investments, which we support by improving the business environment and promoting healthy entrepreneurship. But, and I emphasize, with respect for Greek taxpayers’ money. For this reason, we are establishing a new, strict framework for controls on subsidies for investment projects. By decision of the Minister of Development, companies under these programs are required each year to submit to the competent authorities documentation proving compliance with their obligations, as well as the approval act of their inclusion. Additionally, an annual sample audit is established on 10% to 20% of companies included under the development laws of 2004, 2011, 2016, and 2022, to check the legality of their operation, financial status, maintained jobs, and the progress of investments for which they received subsidies. In case of violations, heavy fines or even recovery of the subsidy will be imposed. In this way, we safeguard the state aid system and ensure public resources are used properly, benefiting the real economy.

With this news, the week’s review comes to an end. See you next Sunday with updates from both domestic and international developments, as I will be in New York for the UN General Assembly. Have a good day!”