Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis revealed the establishment of a national authority tasked with market price oversight and consumer protection during his address at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning in Athens.
The Greek Prime Minister said the new body would be set up on the Swedish model, adding that protecting Greek households was a top priority as high costs continued to erode medium- and low-income earners.
Mitsotakis stressed the new watchdog would act as a powerful instrument in the government’s quiver to combat inflation, adding that it would operate in tandem with the existing competition committee.
“This new institution will be responsible for handling inspections, complaints, sanctions, and the out-of-court resolution of disputes. As part of this framework, a special mobile phone application will soon be launched, through which citizens will be able to inform and immediately mobilize inspectors,” the Greek PM noted.
Commenting on the farming financing scandal (OPEKEPE) and the decision to dissolve the body, Mitsotakis used the phrase, “When a Gordian knot cannot be untangled, you cut it.”
During his address, the PM also touched on the migration crisis, highlighting Greece’s leading role in adjusting EU policy on the matter. “We want to make the return mechanism more effective,” he stressed.
As he stated, “Overall flows are reduced, mainly at the eastern borders, as we have good cooperation with the Turkish authorities. The fence has proven to be extremely effective, which is why it is being extended. I will not tire of saying that Europe must take on a greater share of the funding for such projects, because the burden should not fall solely on the states at Europe’s borders to do a job that concerns all of Europe.”
Earlier, OT reported that during today’s cabinet meeting, the Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakos, was expected to propose the creation of this new authority—explaining the rationale behind its establishment, its structure, and its scope of responsibilities.
According to OT sources, the authority will be modeled after the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), will operate with a streamlined structure, be equipped with modern digital tools, and have a sufficient number of personnel to adequately supervise the market—across its full breadth and depth.
