Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has used his first Sunday review since the summer break to insist that Greece’s pursuit of dialogue and good neighbourly relations with Turkey does not amount to backing down on its rights, while also placing heavy emphasis on the economy, early public debt repayment, and this month’s wildfires.

Referring to renewed objections from Ankara over Greece’s new Spatial Planning Framework for Renewable Energy Sources, and the revival of Turkish claims about so called “grey zones,” Mitsotakis said Greece acts on the basis of international law, exercises its rights, and will not allow threats or unlawful claims to dictate its decisions. “We consistently pursue dialogue and good neighbourly relations with Turkey. But dialogue does not mean retreating,” he said.

On the economy, the prime minister confirmed that Greece will make a further early repayment of €13bn in public debt during 2026, on top of the €36bn already repaid ahead of schedule since 2019, a pace of debt reduction he described as the fastest in Europe. He called the reduction a matter of “fairness for future generations” and said the country “cannot load our children with bills created in the past.” He also pointed to an upgraded outlook for the Greek economy from Japanese credit rating agency Rating and Investment Information (R&I), and said he would return to economic issues from the podium at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), the annual trade fair where Greek prime ministers traditionally set out economic policy, in two weeks’ time.

Mitsotakis devoted a lengthy passage to August’s wildfires, noting that unusually strong winds, sustained for 20 days according to the National Observatory of Athens, made firefighting extremely difficult and grounded aircraft for periods in Boeotia and Western Attica. He said burnt areas this summer were nonetheless lower than in previous years and than in other Mediterranean countries, even as firefighters and volunteers tackled more than 500 forest fires since the start of August and 2,700 since the start of the fire season. At least 1,000 people were evacuated by sea from active fire fronts, he said, though lives were lost, which he said “overshadows anything else” that could be said about the response. He confirmed that damage assessments in affected areas were continuing so that compensation and support payments could reach those affected as quickly as possible.

The prime minister also announced FinStart, a new Ministry of Education initiative launching gradually from the new school year for around 40,000 primary and secondary pupils, aimed at teaching basic financial literacy and digital fraud awareness.

On energy, Mitsotakis confirmed a deal for French infrastructure investment group Meridiam to become majority shareholder in the Great Sea Interconnector, the electricity link between Greece and Cyprus, with French cable manufacturer Nexans undertaking the cable’s construction and laying. He called the agreement a “strong vote of confidence” in Greece’s energy infrastructure, saying it would end Cyprus’s energy isolation and strengthen Greece’s role as a regional energy hub.

Other announcements included new irrigation works for the Lasithi region of Crete, covering the Chochlakies reservoir and the Agios Ioannis dam in Ierapetra, with the Sitia municipality section due to operate within 18 months and the full project within 42 months. A new digital platform, myAGRO, is now the point of submission for 2026 agricultural subsidy applications, with early applicants who file by 15 September expected to receive an advance by 31 October, and other applicants by 30 November.

Mitsotakis also announced a new “right to be forgotten” measure for cancer survivors, to be enshrined in law after being added to the insurance sector’s code of conduct in 2024. Under the change, insurance contracts linked to loans or credit agreements will not be able to use data from a cancer diagnosis five years after treatment ends, provided there has been no relapse, a shorter window than the 15 years allowed under EU rules.

A separate measure targeting “energy tourism,” where consumers repeatedly switch electricity providers while leaving unpaid bills behind, will let suppliers flag overdue debts to the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO); after three such flags, a consumer will be unable to switch provider until the debt is paid or a repayment plan is agreed.

Mitsotakis paid tribute to three prominent Greek public figures who died in August: sociologist Constantinos Tsoukalas, philosopher Stelios Ramfos, and former finance minister Stefanos Manos, saying each had offered a different lens on modern Greek identity and society.

He closed by congratulating Greek athletes on a strong August across athletics, swimming, rowing, sailing, shooting and gymnastics, naming Tentoglou, Karalis, Petrounias, Roussou, Mitropoulou, Iakovaki, Christou, Siskos, Mouselimis, Chiotis, Alexiou, Mouratidou, Triantou, Samaras, Theodorakopoulou, Gerochristos, Markantonaki, Baxevanakis and Nikolantonakis.