KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS

The prime minister pointed out, not everyone welcomed a stronger Greece, so that it was now being subjected to displays of bravado on the part of its neighbours.The more they threaten us, the more they expose themselves the prime minister said.

The PM said the government's concern was prosperity of each citizen, but warned that "there is a lot to be done in the next 12 months and in another 4 years," referring to the elections in 2023 and a second term.

"The prime minister’s visit provides an opportunity to affirm our strong bilateral partnership and to celebrate 201 years of Greek independence," a statement said. 

Prime Minister noted that the problem of skyrocketing energy prices was imported and therefore demanded a joint European response but pledged that the government will continue to support energy consumers regardless, through a subsidy scheme that will continue in May as well.

The prime minister noted that 230 billion euros in unallocated loans were available from the recovery fund and these could be used, on an EU level, to deal with the energy crisis.

Greece has "40 billion euros set aside, and has the ability to plan its borrowing in a way that controls the rise of interest rates. Beyond that, achieving investment grade is an absolutely feasible target for 2023", Mitsotakis said.

"We agree that the solutions cannot be only national," Greek Prime Minister said after remotely participating in a quadrilateral summit held in Rome with his Italian, Spanish and Portuguese counterparts

Mitsotakis stressed that vaccination against the coronavirus remains an absolute priority, despite the fact that epidemiological data shows a prospect of de-escalation.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during Tuesday's online cabinet meeting that he received recommendations for mandatory rapid tests for everyone in order to enter entertainment venues. «I rejected them, because I considered that such a measure would be unfair for the vaccinated».

As there is still no agreement between Gazprom and DEPA on supply prices for next year, the Prime Minister stressed that for 30 years Russia has been a reliable supplier of natural gas and Greece, in turn, is also a reliable partner.