At the 2025 economic conference of Wirtschaftsrat Deutschland in Berlin, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke, receiving the “Ludwig Erhard” award for Greece’s economic recovery.

“This recognition is not solely mine, as it primarily belongs to the Greek people,” said Kyriakos Mitsotakis during the Economic Council Germany Conference. “We are pleased tonight to share our story and invite businesses to see Greece as an investment destination. I accept this medal on behalf of the Greek people. Thank you very much for the recognition, and I sincerely look forward to working with you and your government. Thank you all for your trust in Greece,” the Prime Minister stated.

Referring to the Greek people, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, “They have indeed faced great difficulties and sacrifices, but at the same time, the Greek people have been brave, accepting change and demonstrating resilience. They never abandoned their future promise. Even when our country was perceived as Europe’s problematic child and on the brink of abandoning the eurozone.”

He highlighted Greece’s efforts, saying, “Our intentions were not clear to many, and even our position within the European family could be questioned. However, this country, which was met with skepticism in Germany, is now recognized for its determination, discipline, resilience, and ability to implement difficult reforms.”

On combating tax evasion, he noted, “When tax evasion is addressed through digital tools, as we did, the result is that we can generate more revenue from those who previously did not pay taxes… Of course, initially there were reactions… Now, as we collect additional revenue and can distribute this prosperity to citizens, they understand that these reforms work.”

Mitsotakis also sent a message to German investors to trust Greece, emphasizing that for 2024, the primary surplus was expected to be around 2%, but ultimately reached 4.8%. He added, “What’s most important is that progress is mainly reflected in employment. Over the last six years, we have created 500,000 new jobs in Greece, and I believe this is the most significant achievement of our economic policy.”

Addressing Friedrich Merz, the Greek Prime Minister praised the new German Chancellor’s positions on the EU and emphasized that “leadership is not about ideologies but about the resolve to find solutions.”

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Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ speech at the 2025 Wirtschaftsrat Deutschland Conference in Berlin

“This gold medal shows that we do not want Greek-German relations to stay in the past but to focus on the future and make important European decisions on defense, immigration, and competitiveness,” Mitsotakis added, receiving applause from the audience when he stressed the importance of a stable government in Germany to face major European challenges.

Immediately after, Friedrich Merz congratulated the Greek Prime Minister on his award, stating that he believes it was well deserved.