Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece could consider a temporary cut in fuel taxes, but only with the European Union’s approval, as soaring prices at the pump continue to squeeze household budgets.
In his Sunday post, Mitsotakis said that even a government with fiscal reserves cannot tackle a problem of this scale alone. He said a European response is needed and that he will keep pressing for one.
“Should the European Union allow extraordinary national measures that are not counted toward spending limits, we could also consider a temporary reduction in fuel taxation,” he wrote.
He pointed to steps already taken. The government and refineries intervened to bring the opening price of heating oil below 1.75 euros per liter. The heating allowance is being raised across the board, benefiting “not only those who use heating oil, but also households heated by other forms of energy.” The diesel subsidy is also being extended through October.
Turning to the economy, Mitsotakis described the recent upgrades by Moody’s and Scope as “yet another confirmation of the progress our economy has made in recent years.”
He said Greece is entering the global data center map “more dynamically than ever,” thanks to the agreement between the Public Power Corporation (PPC) and Amazon Web Services. The investment, he said, “will bring new, well-paid jobs, keeping young scientists in their home country.”
The prime minister also cited the development law, under which 928 investment plans have been approved. They carry a combined budget of 3.1 billion euros, with 1.5 billion euros in public support, and are expected to secure at least 15,000 high-productivity jobs.
Finally, he hailed the Ellinikon Sports Park as “the most modern sports park in the country” and “the first major project of the Ellinikon redevelopment to be delivered to the daily lives of citizens.”
