Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis began his weekly review by expressing his deep pride in the completion of the restoration of the west facade of the Parthenon, emphasizing that this is a project of historic significance for the country’s cultural heritage and highlighting the restoration work carried out on monuments and cultural sites in the Dodecanese.
He then referred to the launch of the new platform posokanei.gov.gr, noting that market transparency and better consumer information can help address high prices.
“High prices remain one of the biggest challenges for households, and there are no easy or magic solutions. There is only a continuous effort, on many levels simultaneously,” he emphasized, while also presenting the new “Home Renovation” initiative, which aims to increase the housing supply through the renovation of vacant or old properties.
At the same time, he underscored the importance of citizen participation in the second round of public service evaluations, noting that the findings of the previous process helped drive reforms. On labor issues, he referred to the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement for food technologists and scientists, while noting that the Greek initiative to strengthen collective bargaining agreements is now attracting European interest.
He placed particular emphasis on fire prevention, calling on citizens to clear their properties, and also highlighted the role of the National Animal Protection Mechanism in rescuing and caring for animals during natural disasters.
Referring to international developments, he welcomed the framework agreement between the United States and Iran, underscoring its importance for stability in the Middle East and the easing of energy pressures, while noting Greece’s enhanced role in the energy landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean.
He also spoke about the country’s inclusion in the European defense financing instrument SAFE, describing it as an important step toward strengthening the country’s defense capabilities, and concluded his message with a reference to World Father’s Day.
“If I had to single out just one image from the past week—an image that filled me with deep pride—it is undoubtedly the one of the Acropolis. After nearly 220 full years, the west facade of the Parthenon has once again regained its fullest possible form. The scaffolding has been removed, and we can now admire this architectural marvel unobstructed, thanks to the restoration of the west pediment. This is an achievement of historic significance for the monument and for world culture. A project of extraordinary difficulty that became a reality thanks to the scientists, engineers, and craftsmen of the Acropolis Monuments Conservation Service. They worked with exemplary precision and dedication, and they deserve a big round of applause from all of us.
For our government, the protection and promotion of cultural heritage is not a secondary policy, but an ongoing national obligation. That is why the image from the Acropolis is perhaps the most iconic, but it is not the only one. On Symi, the restored bell tower of St. John the Baptist was inaugurated; in Rhodes, major restoration work was completed on three monuments in the Medieval City, and on Halki, a new Archaeological Museum was established, along with the restoration of Panagia Choriáni. “Whether large or small, all these projects, funded by the Recovery Fund, reflect our steadfast commitment: to invest in culture not only as part of our identity, but also as a precious legacy for future generations,” he said.
“Moving on from culture to a completely different topic. This week we launched the new platform posokanei.gov.gr. One observation right off the bat: a platform alone is not going to solve the problem of high prices. If it were that simple, we would have solved it long ago. However, I believe that greater market transparency, better consumer information, and more effective controls across the entire supply chain—from farm to shelf—can serve as useful tools in our fight for better prices. Posokanei does not seek to shift the responsibility for oversight onto consumers. On the contrary, it helps both us as a government and you to exercise more effective market oversight. Download the app, try out its features, and you’ll see that it can make us, as consumers, more discerning and informed, while also making businesses more competitive. As for those who question it as a tool for transparency and competition—whether from the opposition or the market—they’d better get used to it, because posokanei is here to stay, and it will get better every week. It is the next evolution of e-katanalotis, featuring more than 8,000 products to compare, more data, and the ability to track price trends over time as well as compare prices with similar products in other European countries. Accuracy remains one of the biggest challenges for households, and there are no easy or magic solutions. There is only a continuous effort, on many levels simultaneously.
Moving on from the cost of living, I’d now like to address another major challenge: housing. The new “Home Renovation” initiative has now been added to the programs already underway to tackle this problem. To put it very briefly, through this program we are providing strong incentives for the renovation of vacant or older homes, so that they can either be used as the owners’ primary residence or made available for long-term rental. At the same time, the program also allows for the renovation of homes that are already being used as primary residences. Why is this new initiative important? Because it addresses the problem of thousands of vacant, unused properties—that is, the limited supply of housing. But also because it is a Europe-wide pilot program that Greece was the first to propose and is implementing with EU funding. The subsidy can reach up to 36,000 euros or 95% of the cost of the work for low- and middle-income households. It is estimated that this initiative could bring up to 20,000 homes—which are currently vacant—back onto the market. Interest is already very high, as more than 6,700 eligibility certificates have been issued through anakainisi.apps.gov.gr.
I promise this is the last platform I’ll mention today. But it’s important, as it concerns the evaluation of public services and, therefore, how we can improve them. The second round of evaluations has now begun via axiologisi.ypes.gov.gr. I’d like to remind you that the first evaluation process, in which approximately 65,000 citizens participated, yielded useful insights into services that needed changes. A prime example is urban planning, which received negative feedback from citizens and is now at the center of a major reform through its integration into the new digital Land Registry. I would therefore like to encourage as many citizens as possible to participate. Your opinion matters and, above all, makes a difference.”
Labor issues were the next topic the Prime Minister addressed in his post. “Turning to labor issues, yet another collective bargaining agreement was signed this week, this time for food technologists and scientists. It is the first agreement in the sector in 15 years, with pay raises and additional benefits for workers. But I’d like to focus on this issue, as Greece’s efforts to strengthen collective bargaining agreements are now being discussed at the European level as well. A few days ago, I had the opportunity to present in Brussels the National Social Agreement that we signed with the social partners, which is of particular interest because an agreement signed on the initiative of a center-right government has already led to the expansion of collective bargaining agreements, covering, within a few months, more than 15% of the country’s workers with wage increases and additional protections.”
He then emphasized: “Let me now turn to the very important issue of fire prevention, which requires our constant attention. We are now entering the most challenging phase of the fire season, and conditions are conducive to both the outbreak and the rapid spread of fires. Since May 1, 803 fires have been recorded across the country, which, fortunately, were dealt with immediately without causing major damage. I would like to emphasize in particular the importance of clearing land. It has been proven time and again that this can prevent a fire from breaking out or significantly limit its spread. Starting Tuesday, municipalities will begin inspections and enforce the applicable penalties. That is why I urge those who have not yet done so to act immediately. It has been proven that homes that were at risk of fire in previous years were ultimately saved because their owners had carried out precisely these cleanup efforts. Prevention is always preferable to dealing with a disaster, and clearing land is perhaps the simplest yet most effective preventive measure at our disposal.
However, preparing for natural disasters also has another important aspect: caring for animals at risk from wildfires and other extreme events. This is why the National Animal Protection Mechanism, which we established, is of particular importance. What began a few years ago through collaboration between the government, volunteers, and animal welfare organizations has now taken on an organized and permanent form, coordinating animal rescue and care operations in the event of natural disasters. I had the opportunity to see firsthand the new facility for sheltering and caring for affected animals in the Municipality of Galatsi, where exceptional work is being done. I hope we never have to make full use of this infrastructure to the extent for which it was designed. However, it is important that they now exist.
Finally, I have saved some topics related to international affairs for last.
I’ll start, of course, with the framework agreement signed by the United States and Iran on Friday in Switzerland, which encourages the continuation of dialogue and diplomatic efforts to reach a final agreement to end the conflict in the Persian Gulf. Greece welcomes the agreement and, as a member of the EU, can contribute to promoting a comprehensive strategy for lasting peace throughout the Middle East. It is, of course, urgent to restore—without restrictions—free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, as the smooth flow of the region’s energy supplies is of paramount importance both for regional stability and for the global economy. The mere announcement of the framework agreement has already led to a 20% drop in international oil prices, which means that reaching a final and enforceable agreement will serve as a catalyst for reducing energy costs and easing the inflationary pressures that have “plagued” European economies and households.
This significant development comes at a time when Greece’s position as a reliable energy partner in the Eastern Mediterranean is being strengthened. Our country is participating, alongside the U.S., Cyprus, and Israel, in the creation of the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center, an initiative aimed at strengthening energy security, developing new infrastructure, and attracting investment to the region. At the same time, the procedures for Chevron’s participation in a new exploration project off the coast of the Gulf of Kyparissia have been completed. As I have said, the presence of one of the world’s largest energy groups is yet another vote of confidence in our country’s prospects and in the strategy we are pursuing to harness our energy potential.
Another important piece of news—and I’ll conclude with this—is our country’s official accession to the European defense financing instrument SAFE, securing 700 million euros for investments in critical defense capabilities, such as strategic surveillance, secure communications, and drone countermeasures. I consider this development particularly significant, because for the first time, Europe is taking such a substantial step toward joint defense funding, and our country is at the forefront of this effort. In an era of geopolitical turmoil, security is neither a theoretical concept nor a given. It is a prerequisite for stability, development, and national self-confidence. And that is why we must make the most of every opportunity that strengthens our country’s position.
I’ll conclude with a more personal reflection on today’s International Father’s Day. Of all the roles I play in my life, that of a father is one of the most important and defining. And as a father, but also as a son, I know well just how profound that influence is. It’s a role full of responsibility, but also the greatest joy: being there, a pillar of support through the good times and the bad, and watching your children grow up and forge their own paths. So, happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.
Have a great day!”