The arrival of the first of four FDI Belharra frigates in Greece and its role in furthering the country’s goals in the Eastern Mediterranean, the ongoing dispute with Greek farmers and the good news for the Greek economy were among topics addressed in Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ regularly weekly review, posted online each Sunday.
“What a week! One of those that remind you that politics is not just about handling current affairs…It is the responsibility to see further, to make decisions that build stability, security and direction for tomorrow,” Mitsotakis said at the start of his message.
Referring to the official integration of the Belharra frigate “Kimon” in the Hellenic Navy, he emphasised that the four ships, which are due to join Greece’s fleet over the next 18 months, will strengthen Greece’s deterrent capability and further its role as a pole of stability and reliability in the Eastern Mediterranean, an as an actor seeking good neighbourly relations and cooperation with the countries of the region.
“The moments I experienced on the bridge and deck of the “Kimon” made me feel great joy and pride,” he said, repeating that his duty as prime minister was to hand over a country that was more secure than when he took over.
The prime minister also highlighted the good news on the economic front, noting that defence and economic security were intertwined, and together with political stability created the conditions for prosperity and freedom for the many.
“When a country can invest in its security without undermining its fiscal stability, this is a sign of seriousness. And it is precisely this seriousness that the markets recognised in the recent issue of Greece’s 10-year bond by the Public Debt Management Agency. Interest exceeded all expectations, with offers amounting to 49.5 billion euros from 330 investors. Greece raised four billion euros with the lowest yield since last year, despite an increase in European interest rates. This is the most convincing reply to those who questioned the value of investment grade: lower cost of borrowing for the state, businesses and citizens, more fiscal space for policies to support the vulnerable, young people and the periphery,” Mitsotakis said.
Commenting on the ongoing dispute with Greece’s farmers that has dominated headlines for nearly 50 days, he repeated that the government had sought dialogue from the start but “without easy promises and actions that would undermine the overall effort for economic stability.” He noted that some of their demands had already been met and that the government had effectively already announced the measures that it was able to take in this direction.
The meeting with farmers on Monday, he added, would give an opportunity to meet with the rest of the farmers’ representatives, who had not attended a meeting the previous week, while a separate meeting would be held to discuss issues affecting Greek livestock breeders, who were hard hit by sheep pox.
“Our aim is not fragmentary solutions but a fair, transparent and efficient system of agricultural subsidies. A system that supports real farmers, without injustice for the rest of society, and which gives the primary sector prospects for better products and higher incomes,” he said.
The prime minister then referred to unemployment, noting that this had hit a historic low, combined with a rise in employment rates, which rose 1.4% to reach 64.6% in the 15-64 age group in the third quarter of 2025. He also noted the restoration of collective agreements, which had now been extended to cover more of the workforce, and improvements relating to the state health sector, with shorter waiting lists for surgeries through the introduction of free evening surgeries and shorter waiting times in emergency rooms.
Mitsotakis went on to note the reforms to speed up and digitalise justice, through the electronic case file, Parliament’s ratification of an order of 23 brand new trains for Greece’s railway system, the recent election of a new Mufti in Didimoticho and concluded by referring to the importance of organ donation, reporting that a campaign launched last October helped bring 30,000 new organ donors to the system.
