Μake us preferred on Google Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid tribute on Thursday to the three firefighters who lost their lives while battling wildfires in Rethymno on Crete and in Gytheio, saying the state will honor their sacrifice while continuing to strengthen the country’s defenses against the growing threat of the climate crisis.
Speaking at the opening of a Cabinet meeting at the Maximos Mansion, the prime minister expressed his deep sorrow over the deaths of the firefighters. He said the government stands by their families and remains committed to reinforcing Greece’s capacity to respond more effectively to increasingly severe wildfires.
Mitsotakis also highlighted Greece’s initiatives at the European level, noting that France and Spain are currently battling large-scale “mega-fires” and that Greece has provided assistance to both countries.
He added that Greece played a leading role in securing a European agreement to restart the production line for Canadair firefighting aircraft, with the country’s first new aircraft expected to be delivered in 2028.
Warning that “we still have difficult days ahead,” the prime minister urged the public to exercise maximum caution as the wildfire season continues.
Cyprus, Road Safety and Water Reform
During the Cabinet meeting, Mitsotakis also addressed developments on the Cyprus issue following the visit of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to the island.
He described the renewed diplomatic activity as an encouraging development, saying the prospect of an expanded conference under the UN secretary-general’s auspices represents “a serious step in the right direction.”
Turning to domestic issues, the prime minister emphasized road safety, describing it as a long-term challenge after decades of fatal traffic accidents in Greece.
He said the government’s “I Will Live” road safety campaign will be intensified during the summer, alongside targeted information efforts for drivers in cooperation with the vehicle rental industry.
“The message is simple: enjoy your vacation, but return home safely,” he said.
Water Management and Nuclear Energy
Mitsotakis also said Parliament is voting on a major structural reform aimed at streamlining water management by ending fragmentation in the sector.
He stressed that the reform safeguards the public nature of water services and rejected claims that it would lead to privatization or commercialization. He criticized the opposition’s stance on the legislation, calling its approach “regrettable,” and said additional announcements on water management will be made ahead of the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), Greece’s annual economic and political forum.
On nuclear energy, the prime minister clarified that the creation of an interministerial committee does not signal plans to build nuclear power plants. Instead, he said, the committee’s role is to examine scientific developments and establish a policy framework to ensure Greece does not fall behind international trends.
Finally, Mitsotakis said that 117 projects and milestones under Greece’s Recovery and Resilience Fund are currently underway and remain on schedule for completion next month.
