“We don’t have the luxury of complacency,” emphasized Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his remarks at the final cabinet meeting of 2024, adding, “Our focus must remain on those who need it the most.”

“This is an opportunity for a brief respite and a warmer connection with the citizens, allowing us to shift our attention to our fellow citizens who need it the most. We don’t have the luxury of complacency; responsibility doesn’t take vacations. We will convene again, as I mentioned, on January 10 to complete our annual planning. I would like to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis specifically stated.

On Budget Measures
“I would like to express my satisfaction with the budget debate and the overall performance of the government. I believe the government’s priorities for 2025 in economic policy were clearly outlined. It was also an opportunity for all ministries to present their priorities, which are now documented in the familiar blue folders containing each ministry’s foundations for 2025. This is a program of projects with specific timelines, which we are called to approve today.”

International Baccalaureate
“In such a context, our attention turns to the younger generation. For this reason, I want to highlight two bills. The first concerns the public Onassis Schools, a new educational network that places special emphasis on the humanities, sciences, and fine arts. These schools are supported financially by the Onassis Foundation. This is a groundbreaking intervention in public education, which I believe can serve as a guide for actions we gradually aim to extend across the entire spectrum of public schools.

The second bill introduces the International Baccalaureate (IB) into public education. Although the IB has been established for around 30 years, the challenge is to implement it initially in a number of public experimental high schools. The International Baccalaureate could act as a passport to prestigious universities abroad, no longer being exclusively offered by private schools but eventually becoming accessible to all students who wish to choose it.”

Housing for Armed Forces Personnel
“Today, the Minister of Defense will present an ambitious housing plan for the armed forces, leveraging the significant real estate assets of the Ministry of National Defense. The goal is to ensure that every member of the armed forces posted away from their permanent residence has access to dignified accommodations. This measure complements the substantial financial support for uniformed personnel that we announced during the budget discussions, recognizing in practice the dangerous nature of their profession.”

Skylakakis Bill
“A third issue we will discuss concerns addressing a long-standing problem related to water supply, irrigation, and sewage services in municipalities. We will proceed with a bold modernization effort to streamline the many agencies currently involved. Our approach will incentivize mergers to enhance efficiency and improve revenue collection, which varies significantly depending on the diligence of each entity. The Minister of Environment, Mr. Skylakakis, will provide the relevant recommendations.”

Relocation of Korydallos Prison
“A decades-long issue concerning the relocation of Korydallos Prison is finally moving forward. Following numerous delays, the project now falls under the framework of compulsory expropriations, enabling the construction of new prisons outside the urban fabric to begin soon. This was not only a request of the local community but also a necessity aligned with the demands of our times.”

Topics of the Cabinet Meeting:

• Presentation by the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, and Deputy Minister Zetta Makri of legislative initiatives:
  a) Ratification of the Donation Agreement between the “ALEXANDROS S. ONASSIS” Public Benefit Foundation and the Hellenic Republic for the establishment and operation of Public Onassis Schools.
  b) Strengthening school units and introducing innovations in education.
• Presentation by the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, and Deputy Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis of the bill regarding the utilization of the Armed Forces’ real estate assets.
• Presentation by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skylakakis, of the bill on modernizing the institutional framework for water supply and sewage services.
• Proposal by the Minister of State, Akis Skertsos, for the approval of the Unified Government Policy Plan for 2025.
• Proposal by the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, and the Minister of Interior, Theodoros Livanios, on setting quantitative targets per service for implementing the incentive and reward system for public sector employees.
• Proposal by the Minister of State, Makis Voridis, regarding the approval of the Annual Program of the Central Codification Committee.
• Proposal by the Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, on declaring compulsory expropriation for the relocation of the Korydallos Detention Center.

Photos from the cabinet meeting: