The government will continue to support, but the resources are not inexhaustible, our measures will always be balanced, the prime minister emphasized. Kyriakos Mitsotakisduring his opening statement at the meeting ministerial councilreferring to the energy crisis and the upcoming “hard winter,” he said.

The summer is extremely promising for tourism and fires, but the international situation portends a difficult winter, including the prime minister. The price of natural gas has increased tenfold, he said, referring to a “strategic threat” due to Moscow’s stance. He noted that Russian blackmail in the energy sector was organized. Mr. Putin makes no secret of this, as does Erdogan, who has said he would like a different government in Greece, he said.

For natural gas and electricity

On the energy front, it’s time to implement the package I proposed seven months ago: a ceiling and decoupling the price of natural gas from the price of electricity. The government will continue to support, but the resources are not inexhaustible, the prime minister said, adding: “Our measures will always be balanced.”

“I hear and read about a tsunami of impending benefits that creates false expectations. True inflation is not defeated by inflationary promises,” he added.

The Europeans are now looking at what he proposed long ago, namely capping natural gas and decoupling natural gas prices from electricity prices, he said. “I proposed a ceiling seven months ago. I warned of the coming crisis. Better late than never,” he said.

Details on what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said:

“Our regular meeting takes place in the midst of the current situation with two aspects: the summer, fortunately, continues to be extremely promising for our tourism, as well as for our exports and government revenues. The same goes for fighting fires, as well as de-escalating unemployment.

However, the international situation, unfortunately, is covered with dark clouds, heralding an extremely difficult winter. The war in Ukraine has already ended for half a year, Russia is now attacking all of Europe, using natural gas as a weapon. Its prices have risen by 1000%, ten times higher compared to before the crisis, which also led to an increase in the cost of electricity, which led to unprecedented inflationary pressure.

Moscow seeks political instability in Europe

Thus, this is an unprecedented threat to the entire West. I would even say that this is also a strategic threat, because now everything shows that Moscow seeks to create social unrest through economic pressure, but also political instability within countries that react to its plans. This is the price borne by the front of freedom, international law and democracy.

And for doubters, one has only to look at how organized Russian energy blackmail is and how accuracy tries to be a catalyst for exaggerating particular issues and challenging, and sometimes all, national governments. Where; To those states that, on behalf of Ukraine, have defended and continue to defend peace, the inviolability of borders and democratic normality on our continent. Mr. Putin does not hide it, but neither does Mr. Erdoganwho publicly stated that he would like another government in Athens.

As regards Greece, we must certainly add it to the more general problems. aggressiveness our neighbors and, of course, migratory. In fact, the competent committee will be briefed today by the two competent ministers.

Migration: no maneuver by Turkey will change our position

A migration that, instead of the massive waves that we experienced two or so years ago, now manifests itself in the form of so-called “humanitarian incursions” of groups, which, however, move in concert. But no new drug trafficker tactics and no maneuvering Turkey it doesn’t change our attitude. We save the innocent, guard our borders, and let the other side look at their bare borders.

I make this introduction wishing to describe the international situation and the economic and political implications that it may have for each state, because only in this way can we formulate our responses both at the European and at the national level.

Natural gas price ceiling

For the first one, the European one, there is no doubt that the time has come to implement what I proposed to my colleagues exactly seven months ago: A ceiling on gas prices, a decoupling of gas and electricity prices, in other words, finally, a pan-European response to the crisis.

I’m sorry, but I was the first to warn about the crisis we’re currently facing. In fact, I spoke at the time, to some reaction in Brussels, about Europe’s hulking “super-ocean” that usually changes course slowly. Now, after yesterday’s statements by the President of the European Commission, as well as the activation of the Czech Presidency, I will say: “better late than never.” However, I will insist that every day that goes by without a single response to the energy crisis will exacerbate problems for all Europeans.

At the national level now, I think the government has proven that it knows and can put up barriers to growth. He said it and he did it and he did it to electricity bills. He says so and will continue to do so everywhere and however necessary.

But be careful resources are not endless and we must not forget that if the state today is able to support households and businesses with more than 2 billion a month to pay their electricity bills, it also owes sound policies that have increased public wealth so that it can be returned to citizens.

Therefore, our measures will always be measured and undermine national needs without temporary needs. I say this because I hear or read – it always happens, you know, before International Exhibition in Thessaloniki – for the “tsunami” of future blessingswhich often also create false expectations.

With rising interest rates, public debate must be based on realism and true inflation he is not beaten with false inflationary promises. And if we still manage to effectively support society to the best of our ability, it is precisely because we will exhaust fiscal reserves, but will not abolish them.

In TIF, the plan for the coming critical winter

So wait until International Exhibition in Thessaloniki, because there I will be able to present our plan for the coming decisive winter, as well as for the second term of our government and for Greece in 2030.

In the meantime, our work continues and today we will consider a number of important bills. network connection problem already under her control parliament And her Justice. Thus, our absolute priority is the energy crisis and its solution, which seems to be fixed in the coming months. And, as I said, on this front we are moving both in our country and in Europe, but we must not hide from the citizens the size of this particular threat. This is a different kind of threat. I would say that this has a lot in common with the pandemic that we faced two years ago.

It is global, it is asymmetric, it has many hitherto unknown parameters, and at the same time it has parallel effects in many different areas: from the course of national economies and the wallet of each household, to social cohesion and the daily life of each place. . That is why our protection must be proportionate. This means that the state and citizens will have to unite again. State measures, of which there are many, must, yes, be combined with changes in individual and family behavior. And collective provisions also need to be framed by adjustments to our personal habits that will work in the same direction.

In other words, the state must once again show courage and sensitivity, and society, in turn, must show responsibility. We are already adapting our plan to future energy needs, with the aim of not only strengthening the weakest, but also reducing, completely reducing energy consumption, increasing reasonable consumption. We need, Mr. Minister, wide information campaign on this subject so that everyone can be informed about the most effective ways to save electricity, along with the general provisions that have already been implemented for the work of the state.

That’s all, and in order to have an idea of ​​the wider context, which President Macron called “the great shock the end of confidence.” an unstable environment in which strong states are only stable states, and with this position – I think – all Greeks agree, and it would be good for those who rely on international difficulties to fabricate internal crises, to realize it. I spoke about this in Parliament, I do not need to specify. Moreover, the message has been sent both inside and outside its borders: Greece is not turning back and changing its historical choices. He remains firmly on the trajectory of Europe and liberal democracy, with a government that responds to the challenges of the moment, with the public as an ally, without succumbing to pressure or any of its weaknesses.

I assure you that firstly, I do not tolerate any submissives, nor compromises with our mistakes. After all, this is our great strength: truth, trust in the citizen and work for the present and the desired future. So we continue. And now we can start our agenda for today.”