Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis began the press briefing on Thursday, the first after the Easter holiday, by referring to the 1.1-billion-euro package of measures unveiled by the government earlier on Tuesday, after Eurostat and Elstat announced a 4.8% of GDP primary surplus for Greece. He noted that these were "calculated and costed" measures targeting some 2.7 million Greek citizens with low to middle incomes, without jeopardising fiscal stability.
"At the heart of these calculated and costed measures of a permanent nature, which will be implemented without, of course, placing the country's fiscal stability at risk, are families living in rented accommodation, pensioners, the elderly uninsured and people with disabilities. At the same time, the Public Investment Programme will be reinforced with 500 million euros, starting this year," he said.
Other good news on the economic front, according to the spokesperson, was the fact that Greece had the best performance among the 27 EU member-states in reducing public debt, as a result of a prudent fiscal policy that "translates into benefit for the citizens and growth policies."
Regarding the sums directed to the public investment programme, he said the goal was to accelerate the big infrastructure projects and to increase investment ahead of an anticipated global economic slowdown due to tariffs.
Marinakis said the surplus that led to these permanent measures arose from three main sources, including the use of digital means to fight tax evasion, the curbing of state spending and economic growth, leading to higher employment and higher wages.
The spokesperson next referred to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' visit on Thursday to the climate crisis and civil protection ministry, where the premier was briefed on preparations for the upcoming fire season, the extension of a deadline for clearing plots of land until June 15 and the signing of a ministerial decision for the hiring of 530 medical residents of various ranks and specialities for state health structures throughout the country.
He also announced that a 135-million-euro programme will soon begin, which aims to support the processing and manufacture of agri-food products, thereby increasing their added value, covering domestic needs and their potential to penetrate foreign markets. He said this sought to incorporate innovation, the development of methods and processes for protecting the environment that restrict the phenomenon of climate change, with subsidies ranging between 40% to 75%, depending on the area.
Marinakis concluded by referring to a decision allowing people adopted by foreign nationals up until 1976 to register as Greek citizens and announced that the prime minister will be visiting the education ministry on Friday and attending the funeral for Pope France in Rome with is spouse on Saturday.