When the cameras left and the doors closed at the first Cabinet meeting after the summer break, the discussion turned to the difficult issues of the autumn. The outstanding matters concerning non-state universities, the final race to complete the Recovery Fund, electricity and the cost of living were successively put on the table, with the Thessaloniki International Fair now just around the corner.

The plan to prevent a gap

During the discussion with the Education Minister, in addition to preparations for the start of the school year and the changes being set in motion for the new academic year, particular emphasis was placed on the steps already underway following the decisions of the Third Chamber of the Council of State concerning non-state universities.

The urgent issue concerns the licenses of the three universities and the accreditation of their degree programs. The government’s commitment is that there will be no gap in the implementation of the law and that the institutions will operate normally.

The “remedy” for the issues has already begun, with EOPPEP and ETHAAE moving forward with the procedures falling within their respective responsibilities. The timetable is tight: the goal is to have the outstanding matters concerning institutions that have already been licensed resolved by the end of September, while the deadline for new applications extends to the end of October.

Skylakakis and Patelis on screen

The discussion on the Recovery Fund also featured two familiar faces on screen. Thodoris Skylakakis and Alexis Patelis joined the meeting online, as both had played significant roles in the design and implementation of Greece’s program.

Of the 367 milestones, approximately 20 outstanding items remain, while once the program is completed, a press conference is being planned to provide an overall assessment.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis wanted to know how other European countries were progressing, while he also raised a second, more political question: how all this work would be communicated to the public.

As for the European race, the figures place Greece among the top five. Now, in the final stretch, the challenge is changing: which country will manage to complete the program without losses.

According to reports, the prime minister also had a one-on-one meeting with Nikos Papathanasis. “Great work,” Mr. Mitsotakis reportedly said, noting that the progress of the Recovery Fund is “one of the examples of how the administration learned to operate by setting targets and timetables.”

The review also included the €36 billion that Greece secured in 2020, the largest package as a percentage of GDP in the EU. The prime minister focused on its impact on growth and investment, as well as on the reforms it accelerated, from the digitalization of the public sector and the Land Registry to energy, transport and healthcare.

From there, the discussion moved on to TIF and the decisions for 2027, where Kyriakos Mitsotakis will present the main pillars of economic policy and the country’s road map through 2030.

Electricity and two ongoing threats

Against this backdrop came the discussion of the “good news” on energy that Kostis Hatzidakis had previewed on SKAI. “I think we will have some interesting positive developments concerning electricity,” he said, referring to September for the details.

As for the cost of living, 750 branded products and 100 private-label product codes have already been included in the National Social Agreement, with an average price reduction of around 7%, while another 300 product codes concern school supplies.

The positive indications, however, have not lowered the alert level. Despite the easing of prices for basic food products, two external risks remain on the radar: energy and grain because of the war in Ukraine. This is why the prime minister described inflation as “the biggest issue concerning Greek society and the Greek family.”