Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis began his introductory statement at today's meeting of the Council of Ministers, which is the last for 2025, with a brief reference to the farmers« mobilisations, which he said he hopes will be defused. »I want to remind you that yesterday we also had new disbursements and within the next week all payments will be completed as we had committed to do, totalling 3.8 billion euros. Not without some delays, of course, because, as we have said, it has been a complex process that is in motion with OPEKEPE being transferred to ADSE, but with more funds than last year and certainly - and let us stress this - with much more valid controls. Of the 27 requests from the sector, 20 have already been resolved or we have said that they can be discussed. The second thing that we must stress at every opportunity is that our country is finally getting a fair and fast way of compensation in place of a system that was practically bankrupt," he said.
At this point he said «I want to remind you that unfortunately only our party supported in Parliament this very important reform, which is obviously agreed with the European Commission and had become a one-way street in order to obtain, as I said, a subsidy system that is characterized by transparency and efficiency. And thirdly, to say again that our intention is to set up a bipartisan committee in Parliament which will look at the more medium- to long-term issues, the challenges of the primary sector. I hope that we will come up with a conclusion that can be binding for all parties.
The farmers have sent their own messages but the State has also responded based on the strength of the economy and the very specific commitments it has made to the EU. Now I think that it is now the turn of shared responsibility towards society, towards trade, towards transport, transport, which obviously needs to be free, towards local markets that need to function, towards the winter destinations that are waiting for these days to be able to boost their turnover. But also to the tens of thousands of travellers who have planned to celebrate these days in the region. All of these citizens should neither be inconvenienced nor should they risk any traffic accidents on dangerous bypasses, Mr. Minister. And here I want to be absolutely clear: the first word on the opening of any road is the responsibility of the traffic police and road safety is always the first and non-negotiable priority.
So to those who prefer a paradox, to claim but not to discuss and speak when we call for dialogue, I will say it again, this government will not succumb to blackmail and we cannot, on the other hand, be biased in favour of one social group at the expense of the others. We will discuss where necessary, we have said many times that many of the demands of our farmers are justified and we are rushing as far as we can to be able to meet them. But the scope of the government's possibilities has now been clearly defined. After all, our policy choice has always been to take action for the many by raising incomes, reducing taxes as a dike against inefficiency. Let me remind you again that the measures we have announced have already begun to be implemented: the return of a rent to 900.000 tenants, the now regular assistance of EUR 250 to our low-paid pensioners, the retroactivity of the increases to the members of the Armed Forces and of course our pensioners who - as their pensions are paid in advance - have already begun to see the results of the interventions we have made with the annual increases and the abolition of the personal difference and the reduction of tax rates, which of course affects our pensioners, »said the Prime Minister and gave some examples.
He also stressed that from the beginning of the year we will have reduced VAT on the islands of the northern, eastern and northeastern Aegean and of course from March a significant number of our fellow citizens will pay substantially reduced ENFIA. More than 12,000 villages and communities will see their ENFIA reduced to zero within the next two years. From April we will have the new minimum wage increase. And I will reiterate once again that the government will be fully consistent with the election targets it had set in terms of wage and minimum wage increases and we estimate that the average wage will reach 1,500 euros in 2027.
He reiterated that «all this is not done in a vacuum. The wage increase comes in conjunction with the most significant deceleration in unemployment seen in decades - remember where unemployment was in 2019 and where it is today. And of course with an ongoing government project in the area of everyday life, and I want to highlight in particular the very important agreement signed yesterday for 23 new trains, both intercity and suburban. An agreement worth more than EUR 300 million and I think that we can now say with great certainty that in 2027 a new day is dawning for our railways with regular, fast and completely safe Athens - Thessaloniki services and with renovated stations. We can say with certainty that the railways are entering a new era, as we have committed ourselves to. He stressed at this point that nothing more needs to be said because especially in this sector we need to talk about specific projects but said he felt confident that the project that has been launched can be implemented.
«I am also making a mention since it is a holiday season and people will be moved to the effectiveness of the new MCC. I estimate that we will close for the first time in 2025 with a significant reduction in fatal road accidents in conjunction with the new cameras which are now already in an automated, transparent way serving fines to offenders. I think that something is really changing here in the area of legality on the road, just as it has already changed in the neighbourhoods, in the stadiums and in the universities.
He reiterated that reforms are working, even if they may encounter some obstacles at the beginning of their implementation. «That is why I am very optimistic about the battles that await us in 2026, both in housing and the ongoing battle with the deep state and the cost of living issues. As long as we stay focused on our goal and remind every interlocutor where we started from, where we are and how unstable the world around us is and how secure in counterpoint our country is.».
He stressed that the citizen cannot take for granted what he has conquered and said that 2026 will be a full year of government work until we enter 2027, which will have election characteristics.
He then moved on to the agenda of today's meeting and referred to some institutional changes that will be implemented in 2026 and concluded with wishes.
