Mitsotakis: Modernising armed forces is important to make Greece strong

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis launched his regular Sunday review of the preceding week on social media with a reference to the digital frondistirio, one of the 11 changes in education being introduced this year. The measure provides online extra tuition in school subjects and seeks to offer equal and free access to all students in Greece without charge. "It is our duty to support family incomes with free, good-quality, supplementary education," he stressed.

He concluded his post by stressing the importance of efforts to upgrade Greece's armed forces, referring to the launch of the Hellenic Navy frigate "Nearchos" at the Naval Group shipyards in Lorient, France. "As we announced on Thursday, we will begin negotiations for the acquisition of a fourth Belharra frigate," he said, adding that "the modernisation of the armed forces up until 2030 is one of the most important components of the national effort for a strong Greece, capable of standing up to the heightened demands regarding security and stability in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean."

During the review, Mitsotakis also referred to the government's promise to ban the use of mobile phones at school. "Mobiles must stay in bags during the lesson and I believe we all understand that this primarily helps the children, the educational process and their socialisation. We are thinking of providing schools with lockers - on a trial basis at first - so that pupils can lock their phones in and take them when they leave," he said.

The premier then moved on to the 'My Home 2' programme that is to be launched next January with 2.0 billion euros in European funding, as well as the 'Neighbourhood Nannies' being implemented in 62 municipalities in Greece. "We want the policy for the support of young families that we are planning to be an additional incentive for Greek abroad to return to work in Greece, using the investment and professional opportunities that economic growth provides.

"Through the tax incentives that we have introduced, such as 50% reduced income tax for seven years and the new housing programmes, we want to give young people the opportunity to build their future in our homeland. And it would seen that these policies are bringing results, as the news is more than encouraging," the prime minister said.