Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis began his briefing of political editors with the developments on the front of the bad weather that hit many regions of the country. “The Risk Assessment Committee met again this morning to discuss the weather phenomena that have been ongoing in the country since Wednesday with long and intense rains and storms, local hailstorms and gusty winds. The National Coordination Center for Operations and Crisis Management is in constant communication with the first and second degree OTAs and all stakeholders for the development of weather phenomena in order to have operational readiness and consequences of these. Recalled that are already in a state of readiness in red code the Regions of Attica, Central Greece, Central Greece, Thessaly including Sporades, Peloponnese, South Aegean, as well as the Regional Units of Imathia and Pieria of the Region of Central Macedonia, “he said.

He said that “the Fire Service Operations Centre across the country received 854 calls from yesterday until the early hours of today. Yesterday the phenomenon evolved dynamically throughout the day, by 21:00 we had received 113 calls including 5 calls for water pumping and the rest for tree felling and removal of objects. After midnight, however, the phenomenon manifested itself strongly in Attica and specifically in the areas of Stamata, Dionysos and Nea Makri. Unfortunately, in Nea Makri we also had a tragic incident, due to the severity of the phenomena, where a fellow human being was found and extricated unconscious under a car. To the family of the deceased we express our full sympathy and our sincere condolences.”

He also referred to the emergency measures taken by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to protect private sector workers from the extreme weather conditions of April 1.

Turning to the next issue, Marinakis noted that Morgan Stanley Capital International has upgraded the Greek stock market to developed markets. “The Minister of Economy and Finance and President of the Eurogroup Kyriakos Pierrakakis spoke of a significant development for the Greek economy and a strong international recognition of the progress the country has achieved in recent years,”

He said that “”intensive controls are being carried out on the market, given the impact of the crisis in the Middle East and in view of the Easter holidays. In particular, hundreds of checks are carried out daily on fuel prices. The Independent Authority for Market Control and Consumer Protection carried out a coordinated operation of checks in Rhodes, where 2/3 of the petrol stations on the island were checked. In 50% of these, significant exceedances of the maximum ceiling were found in both unleaded petrol and diesel, as well as failure to record data in the Fuel Price Observatory, in breach of the relevant obligations. For these violations, administrative fines will be imposed on 13 service stations, totalling 65,000 euros.”

He said that “in parallel, last week, 8 service stations in the Attica region were found to have committed significant violations of the law on the maximum fuel cap, on which fines totalling 40,000 euros were imposed. The Authority systematically monitors the market and there will be absolutely no tolerance for phenomena of unfair profiteering and illegal trafficking of products.”

He also pointed out that “since yesterday, the measure of subsidizing diesel at 20 cents per litre was also implemented, which is expected to contribute to the immediate reduction of the price of fuel, while from M. Monday, applications for the fuel pass on petrol will begin.”

Pointing out that rigorous checks on food and basic goods in supermarkets are being carried out in parallel, with the results expected, he also said that more than 100 food companies are under the “microscope” of the new Independent Market and Consumer Protection Authority “for compliance with the Gross Margin. These include meat, fruit and vegetable wholesalers and food and drink companies. Inspections will continue with even greater intensity in the coming period, across the entire market.”

The next item in the briefing was that “the dispatch of the first 130 administrative fines, confirmed by the operation of the system with the AI cameras at eight high risk points in Attica and those on ten buses for the control of irregular traffic on bus lanes, has begun.

In 2026, the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence plans to install around 1,000 cameras in Attica, Thessaloniki and Crete, while the network will continue to be developed in 2027. At the same time, around 300 mobile cameras are expected to be installed by early 2027. The initiative is being implemented with the aim of reducing road accidents and improving driving behaviour. Violations, recorded by the cameras, are verified and sent electronically to citizens in the Citizen Box on gov.gr and Gov.gr Wallet.”

Completing his introductory remarks, Marinakis said that “the platform for submitting applications for VAT refunds at a flat rate of 6% to 121,000 farmers under the special scheme has been opened. The procedure concerns documents issued in 2025, while applications can be submitted exclusively until 15 December 2026.”

During his introductory remarks at the briefing for political editors, the government spokesman said:

“The Risk Assessment Committee met again this morning to discuss the weather phenomena that have been ongoing in the country since Wednesday, with long-lasting and intense rains and thunderstorms, localized hailstorms and gusty winds.

The National Coordination Centre for Operations and Crisis Management is in constant communication with the first- and second-tier local authorities, as well as with all stakeholders, regarding the evolution of the weather phenomena, in order to ensure operational preparedness and response to their consequences.

Regions of Attica, Central Greece, Central Greece, Thessaly (including Sporades), Peloponnese, South Aegean, as well as the Regional Units of Imathia and Pieria of the Region of Central Macedonia are already in RED CODE readiness. The Fire Brigade Operations Centre throughout the country received 854 calls from yesterday until the early hours of today. Yesterday the phenomenon evolved dynamically throughout the day, until 21:00 we had received 113 calls of which 5 calls for water pumping and the rest tree felling and removal of objects.

After midnight, however, the phenomenon became more intense in Attica, specifically in the areas of Stamata, Dionysos and Nea Makri. Unfortunately, in Nea Makri we also had a tragic incident, due to the severity of the phenomena, where a fellow human being was found and extricated unconscious under a car. To the family of the deceased we express our full sympathy and our sincere condolences.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has taken a series of emergency measures to protect private sector workers from the extreme weather events of 1 April. The measures, which were included in a circular, were:

  • First, the mandatory cessation of work in outdoor activities. Typical examples are work in technical and construction works, construction sites, shipbuilding and ship repair zones, distribution and transport of products and objects by two-wheeled vehicle, scooter, etc.

Morgan Stanley Capital International has upgraded the Greek stock market to developed markets.

The Minister of National Economy and Finance and President of the Eurogroup Kyriakos Pierrakakis said this was an important development for the Greek economy and a strong international recognition of the progress the country has achieved in recent years. Greece is returning to the core of the developed economies, not only in terms of government bonds but also in terms of the capital market. This development strengthens the country’s credibility, attracts investment capital, broadens the base of international investors and creates new financing prospects for Greek companies.”

Intensive market checks are being carried out, given the impact of the crisis in the Middle East and in view of the Easter holidays.

Specifically, hundreds of checks are being carried out, every day, on fuel prices. The Independent Authority for Market Control and Consumer Protection carried out a coordinated operation of checks in Rhodes, where 2/3 of the petrol stations on the island were checked. In 50% of these, significant exceedances of the maximum ceiling were found in both unleaded petrol and diesel, as well as failure to record data in the Fuel Price Observatory, in breach of the relevant obligations. For these infringements, administrative fines will be imposed on 13 service stations, totalling 65,000 Euros.

In parallel, last week, 8 service stations in the Attica region were found to have committed significant violations of the law on the fuel ceiling, which were fined a total of 40,000 Euros. The Authority systematically monitors the market and there will be absolutely no tolerance for phenomena of unfair profiteering and illegal product trafficking.

From yesterday, the measure of subsidizing diesel at 20 cents/litre was also implemented, which is expected to contribute to the immediate reduction of the fuel price, while from M. Monday, applications for the fuel pass on petrol will begin.

At the same time, stringent checks on food and basic goods in supermarkets are being carried out, with the results expected.

It is worth noting that more than 100 food companies are under the microscope of the new Independent Authority for Market Control and Consumer Protection for compliance with the Gross Margin. These include meat, fruit and vegetable wholesalers and food and drink companies.

The inspections will continue with even greater intensity in the coming period, across the entire market.

The dispatch of the first 130 administrative fines, confirmed by the operation of the system with the AI cameras at eight high risk points in Attica and those on ten buses to control irregular traffic on bus lanes, has begun.

In 2026, the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence plans to install around 1,000 cameras in Attica, Thessaloniki and Crete, while the network will continue to be developed in 2027. At the same time, about 300 mobile cameras are expected to be installed by early 2027.

The initiative is being implemented with the aim of reducing road accidents and improving driving behaviour.

The offences recorded by the cameras are verified and sent electronically to citizens in the Citizen’s Box on gov.gr and Gov.gr Wallet.

‘The platform for submitting applications for VAT refunds at a flat rate of 6% to 121,000 farmers under the special scheme has been opened.

The procedure applies to documents issued in 2025, while applications can be submitted exclusively until 15 December 2026.

In 2025, the third year of application of this digital procedure, 120,565 applications were submitted, with a total refund amount of €35.4 million.”