Agricultural Payments

Mitsotakis began by addressing the delays that frustrated many farmers, noting that payment flows from OPEKEPE are gradually normalizing.

The government aims to disburse an additional €1.2 billion by December 31, bringing total payments for 2025 to €3.7 billion—an increase of €600 million compared to 2024.

He acknowledged the difficulties but explained that Greece risked losing EU funding if the payment system was not restructured.
The new framework, approved by the European Commission, is designed to be more reliable and fair, preventing exploitation of subsidies.

“The vast majority of honest farmers and livestock breeders have nothing to fear. They will receive every euro they’re entitled to,” Mitsotakis stressed, adding that dialogue—not blockades—is the only effective path to solutions.

Major Infrastructure Delivered: The Patras–Pyrgos Motorway

The Prime Minister highlighted the completion of the Patras–Pyrgos highway, which is now fully operational.
The final 10 kilometers opened this week, following the 65 kilometers delivered in July.

The road, long considered one of Greece’s most dangerous, addresses a decades-old demand of Western Greece and significantly improves safety and transport efficiency.

A Unified National System for Building Permits

A “structural reform” is underway in urban planning and construction oversight.
Building-permit offices, long criticized for delays and inconsistency, will be transferred from municipalities to the new National Agency for Cadastre & Building Controls (EOKED).

This marks the first time Greece will have a unified national authority responsible for issuing and auditing building permits.

The reform aims to ensure consistent procedures, greater transparency and shorter waiting times—addressing one of the lowest-rated public services in the country.

The bill will enter public consultation soon.

A National Program Against Self-Harm Among Youth

One of the government’s most socially sensitive initiatives is Greece’s first national program to address self-harm among adolescents.

Research indicates that one in six teenagers, particularly girls, engages in self-harm as a way to cope with negative emotions, and over 60% know someone who does.

In partnership with UNICEF, the Ministry of Health is opening a Model Community Center for Youth Mental Health, offering free prevention, diagnosis and therapeutic services.
The program involves families, schools and health professionals, aiming for early detection and timely intervention.

“This is not just a new policy,” Mitsotakis said. “It is a commitment to turn silence into support and insecurity into safety.”

Strengthening Physical Education in Schools

The government is also upgrading Physical Education in 4,550 schools with new, modern and accessible athletic equipment.
This includes provisions for students with mobility challenges.

Champion athletes will visit classrooms to share experiences and promote values like resilience and teamwork.
The program also includes educational material on nutrition, sleep, stress management and healthy habits.

Supporting Citizens with Disabilities

Mitsotakis highlighted a new nationwide program to train and certify instructors for visually impaired individuals—addressing an urgent need for Greece’s 17,000 citizens with severe vision problems.

Starting in early 2026, the initiative aims to train 40 new instructors through the Center for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind.

He described it as part of the broader national strategy for disability inclusion: “Solutions don’t appear overnight, but we commit to progress step by step.”

Balanced Development in All Regions

The government is implementing an extensive regional development strategy to reduce inequalities.

By 2026, 50 Local Development Plans—one for each regional unit—will be completed with input from local communities.

Currently, more than 8,000 projects are underway across Greece, and over 330 major projects are scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2027.

To support mountain and island communities, a Special Secretariat for Mountain Areas and a Government Committee for Island Policy are being established.
A new “mountain/island clause” will be applied across ministries to ensure fair development.

Reforming the Justice System

The Prime Minister reviewed significant improvements in Greece’s judicial system:

• Merging of District and First Instance Courts
• Addition of 1,000 new judges
• Reorganization of 113 courts into civil and criminal sections
• Creation of four new regional court seats in Athens
• Integration of new technologies and AI tools to expedite cases
• Expansion of out-of-court dispute resolution
• Investments in new courthouse facilities

These reforms are already delivering results: first-instance decisions are issued in about 300 days, closer to the European average.

The next goal is to reduce final decisions to 650 days by 2027, down from 1,550 today.

“This is not a general promise—it is a commitment,” Mitsotakis said.

A Symbolic Victory at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Mitsotakis celebrated the reopening of the Faculty of Sciences library at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a space that had been occupied for 34 years.

He described it as a triumph of “the light of knowledge over the darkness of violence,” restoring the academic community’s right to operate freely.

“A university becomes stronger every time a library opens,” he noted.

Closing the Week

The Prime Minister concluded by saying the government moves forward with constant focus on “practical, tangible results for citizens.”

“On to the next week,” he wrote. “Good morning!”