Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is attending the pre-conference on “Greece a destination for all – Major projects and infrastructure” in Heraklion. During the discussion, in which he is participating, Mitsotakis answered a question from the Mayor of Halki, Evangelos Fragakis, regarding micro-islanding and issues related to access to health services or regarding the incentives that could be given in order for young people to stay on the islands or return.

In response, Mr. Mitsotakis stressed that “we have the privilege, but also the great responsibility to be the political leaders of a country that has close to 150 inhabited islands”, noting that this in itself demonstrates “the complexity of the need to take care of our fellow citizens who live on each island separately”.

He said the challenge of insularity can be turned into an opportunity, “if we really want to turn it from a handicap into a real opportunity”, prioritising the needs of residents “not only in summer but also in winter”, as he said. He noted that “we have both the financial tools and the plan” to support the small islands and “turn them from a barren line into a fertile place”. Kyriakos Mitsotakis placed particular emphasis on issues such as accessibility, education and health, stressing that “great opportunities are now opening up through technology” to support citizens, especially during the winter months. In this context, the prime minister welcomed the initiative of Stelios Hadjiyannou, stressing that aid to attract doctors can help ensure that small islands “are permanently staffed.”

The Prime Minister also noted that “each island has its own history and comparative advantages”, adding that in an era of high cost of living “many of our fellow citizens are looking for a different life” and the islands can offer this possibility. Referring to education, he observed that “the education you can get on a small island… can be better because of the fact that there are fewer students.”

At the same time, he made it clear that when we talk about insularity “we are not thinking only of Crete, Corfu, or Rhodes, but of all these small islands”, many of which are located in border areas, thanking the Coast Guard for its contribution to their safety.

The discussion focused on issues other than islandhood and the need to support it, tourism, the electrical interconnection between Crete and Attica, the planning and interventions in the BOAK.

“Be aware that this 16th congress will be a key milestone for the next national elections and for Greece 2030, as we envision it and as we will implement it together,” he said, closing his statement at the 4th pre-congress of N.Prime Minister and President of the New Democracy Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

A message with clear political references to the Greece of the future, he explained , emphasizing on major projects. Having made references to the grid of major projects being developed on the island, after decades of remaining in the field of claim, Mitsotakis, speaking on the theme of culture , gave special emphasis on the role it has, but also on the link with tourism. As he stressed, however, the investment in it, not only concerns the enhancement of the visitation of our country , but primarily the national self-awareness and pride.

“Investing in culture is above all an obligation to our history and to future generations,” he said, while in relation to cultural heritage, he referred to Greece’s unique historical path through the centuries, speaking of the importance of educating young people through visits to museums and archaeological sites, so that children “know their history and can stand proudly for their country.”

Before attending the pre-conference, Kyriakos Mitsotakis participated in a meeting on measures to tackle water scarcity. A meeting was held in the Region of Crete and attended by, among others, the Vice President of the Government Kostis Hatzidakis, the Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou, the Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum Sevi Voloudaki , the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Thanasis Kontogiorgis, the Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnaoutakis, Members of Parliament, mayors and local government officials.

In relation to this meeting and the Government’s targeting of the key issue related to water scarcity , Mr. Mitsotakis stressed the importance of a unified planning to achieve economies of scale, proposing the formulation of a specific action plan in cooperation with the Crete Development Agency (CDA), which will include five targeted priority projects, in order to take final decisions in a subsequent phase.

@ellada24gr Mitsotakis: The government has its eye on the future, the opposition zeroes in on everything. One party speaks with a plan for Greece in 2030 and the other wants to take us back to 1980. #newsfeed #greeknews #foryoupage #greektiktok #tiktokgreece #tiktokgr #foryou #fyp #foryourpage #foryourpage #politics #politiki #politicsnews #politicstiktok ♬ original audio – Ellada24