Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed the view that the European elections will shape developments in Europe over the next five years during an interview on Star TV's central newscast on Tuesday evening.
"Matters such as joint border protection obviously concern our homeland as well," Mitsotakis emphasized, warning that the risk of voter abstention is higher, especially when European elections are not held simultaneously with national or local elections.
He also insisted that Greece's position in Brussels has been significantly strengthened.
Regarding the economy and the major issue of rising prices, the PM noted, "We are currently heading in the right direction, with the economy growing at twice the rate. However, this does not mean there is no issue with rising prices. We have increased wages and pensions, but this often isn't enough to cover the increases. Food inflation is slightly higher than the European average, but it shows signs of easing. We will continue to work hard to reduce the cost of living, but there are no magical solutions, especially those costing several billion euros."
When asked about the demographic issue, the premier insisted that "we must support new families, and this means not only improving salaries but also supporting the birth process; we provided the birth allowance."
Furthermore, Mitsotakis mentioned the expansion of nursery programs, the institution of all-day schools, and the neighborhood nanny program. Concerning high rents, Mitsotakis stated, "We are seeking resources to expand the 'My Home' program, provided we find the appropriate funding tool."
On Greek-Turkish relations, the prime minister reiterated that the only pending issue with Turkey is the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf.