Following the recent elections, cabinet reshuffle, and internal party discussions within the ND Parliamentary Group, the government is operating under regular conditions while simultaneously contending with fires that increasingly test the resilience of the state apparatus. Yesterday was acknowledged by officials as the most challenging day of the fire season so far. As we enter the core of the season today, a state of heightened alert continues due to the prolonged period of warm weather conditions.
The cabinet meeting will begin at 11:00 AM with Prime Minister Mitsotakis‘ address. “I want to emphasise that the toughest challenges are still ahead of us. Our efforts are continuous. In this endeavor, we have new tools that build a new culture of prevention and responsibility,” Mitsotakis highlighted in his Sunday post.
During the discussion, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias will update on the extension granted for plot clearing declarations until mid-July due to the high response observed in recent days. By Friday, nearly 500,000 declarations for plot clearings had been submitted on the Ministry of Civil Protection’s platform, indicating an unprecedented mobilization corresponding to clearings exceeding 1 million acres. Additionally, the government has announced an extra €1.3 million in funding for 46 municipalities in Attica to facilitate clearings either through municipal means or private contractors, addressing the accumulation of flammable debris outside plots.
Other agenda items include the progress of the Recovery Fund, with an update from Deputy Minister Nikos Papathanasis, interventions in ASEP (Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection) by Minister of Interior Theodoros Livanios and Deputy Minister Vivi Charalambogianni to accelerate hiring processes, and a presentation by Christos Staikouras on government priorities for resilient infrastructure and sustainable transport.