Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking at the cabinet meeting held via teleconference due to his COVID-19 infection, referred to the OPEKEPE reform bill, the status of farmers’ payments, and the public’s response during national parades.

Specifically, regarding the October 28 national holiday celebrations, he said they were “the best response given by citizens, who have turned their backs on the toxicity and misery spread by certain people.”

Referring to the students in Thessaloniki who marched in the rain, he remarked: “They remained focused on their duty — a good metaphor for how we must move forward despite challenges and storms. Rest assured, nothing will throw us off course.”

Key Points from Mitsotakis’ Address

At the start of his remarks, Mitsotakis mentioned his illness: “We decided it was best to hold the meeting online until the mild symptoms subside.”

He then discussed the October 28 celebrations, calling them “a powerful answer from citizens who reject toxicity and negativity. Of course, they expect more tangible and faster results from the government.”

Regarding the main topics on the cabinet’s agenda, he emphasized that the government is expanding efforts against bureaucracy to make the state more citizen-friendly, while also addressing current challenges such as the OPEKEPE situation.

He announced a set of new measures to further reduce bureaucracy, complementing digital governance achievements such as gov.gr, faster pension issuance, and the digital hospital tracker that shortens emergency room wait times. “There is still room to simplify processes to make everyday life easier — certain certificates are being abolished,” he said.

On the OPEKEPE Reform

Mitsotakis described the integration of OPEKEPE (the Greek Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid) into the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) as “a firm decision to end lawlessness.”

He explained that the move aims to clean up and modernize the management of EU agricultural subsidies, adding:
“Before the European prosecutor’s investigation, I had already said we needed to cut the Gordian knot. Our intervention was necessary — €20 million has been recovered, dozens of cases have gone to court — clear proof of our determination to restore transparency and accountability.”

He admitted that such a reform, implemented while payments and EU negotiations are ongoing, would cause temporary disruptions but stressed:
“Priority remains the rapid payment of compensation to those truly entitled. Recent days have seen payouts for feed and damages from storm Daniel. I believe the situation will normalize by year’s end.”

Mitsotakis added:
“This reform will usher in a new era of transparency and reliability in managing EU funds. The AADE has the advanced systems needed to cross-check data — a solid guarantee for the future.”

On Wildfire Season and Road Safety

The Prime Minister also gave a preliminary review of the 2025 wildfire season, saying:
“This year was devastating for the Mediterranean — over 10 million stremmas (1 million hectares) burned, three times the 20-year average. Greece managed to keep losses below the European average, at 473,000 stremmas. It’s still a lot, but it’s progress. Early detection and first-response improved — 97% of fires were contained while still small.”

He concluded that lessons from this year’s firefighting efforts would strengthen preparedness for next summer, while also noting fewer fatal road accidents during the October 28 holiday weekend.