The Annual General Meeting of the Hellenic Entrepreneurs Association (EENE) was held on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the residence of EENE’s Honorary President, Mr. Vasilis Apostolopoulos, in the presence of the Association’s members, representatives of the government, the business community, and distinguished figures from Greece and abroad.
During the Assembly, the Association’s Administrative and Financial Reports were approved, the progress of the previous year’s activities was presented, and E.E.N.E.’s strategic objectives for the coming period, with a primary focus on strengthening the competitiveness of the Greek economy and creating a stable, supportive, and productive business environment.
The meeting was opened by the President of the Hellenic Confederation of Entrepreneurs (ENE), Mr. Christian Hatziminas, who thanked the members for their continued trust and participation, emphasizing that the Hellenic Confederation of Entrepreneurs (ENE) remains an independent, well-informed, and reliable institutional partner of the State, with the sole aim of strengthening the Greek productive economy.
Statement by the President
In his speech, the President of E.E.N.E., Mr. Christian Hatziminas, emphasized that Greece is at a critical juncture, where maintaining high growth rates requires a new productive model based on investment, innovation, technology, and increased productivity.
As he noted, the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (E.N.E.) continues to put forward evidence-based policy proposals that create incentives for growth without placing a burden on the public budget, thereby helping to shape a more competitive business environment.
In this context, he outlined the Association’s five key positions, which concern:
• reducing the marginal tax rate on increases in business profits,
• zero marginal labor costs for acquiring certified digital skills (upskilling),
• the phased elimination of advance tax payments for businesses,
• accelerating investment in innovation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation,
• as well as effectively aligning education with the needs of the labor market through closer cooperation between the government, businesses, and the academic community.
Mr. Hatziminas noted that these positions will form the central theme of the 10th Economic Conference of the Hellenic Economic Association (E.E.N.E.), which will take place in Berlin, with the participation of representatives from the Greek and European business communities, academics, and distinguished economists. The goal of the Conference is to initiate a substantive dialogue on the reforms needed for the Greek economy to strengthen its competitiveness and develop a sustainable growth model for the coming decade.
The General Assembly was honored by the presence of the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Ms. Niki Kerameos, who spoke about the challenges and opportunities in the Greek labor market, placing particular emphasis on the need for continuous upskilling of the workforce, on linking education to the actual needs of businesses, and on the importance of close cooperation between the government and the country’s productive sectors.
Statement by the Minister
During her opening remarks, the Minister emphasized the close and productive collaboration she has developed in recent years with E.E.N.E., specifically stating:
“I believe the country has a great deal to gain from E.E.N.E., and I say this frankly. Its proposals have helped both the labor market and the business environment. In particular, I view the proposal regarding reskilling and upskilling with great interest, especially in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Advisor to the Prime Minister of Italy & Leading Geopolitical Analyst
Marco Vicenzino, Global Strategy Expert and Advisor to Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, engaged in a lively dialogue with Pavlos Efthymiu, focusing particularly on the relations and cooperation between the two countries within the EU, as well as on the role they play in the Mediterranean. He also spoke about the geopolitical challenges affecting modern economies on a global scale and noted that, in this context, the interventions of institutional bodies such as the Hellenic Exporters Association (E.E.N.E.) are crucial.
E.E.N.E. Director General Mr. Pavlos Efthymiu and E.E.N.E. Secretary General Thomas Apostolidis, presented the key findings of the annual report, highlighting the Association’s continued efforts to expand its international outreach, the development of new partnerships, and its active contribution to the formulation of evidence-based public policy proposals.
During the General Assembly, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between E.E.N.E.—represented by its Honorary President, Vasilis Apostolopoulos— and CSR HELLAS, represented by its Board Chair, Ms. Alexandra Palli.
E.E.N.E. reaffirmed its commitment to continue serving as a bridge for cooperation between the business community and the government, promoting policies that enhance the productivity, competitiveness, and sustainable development of the Greek economy.