2024-09-09 01:37:29
The country is not heading for a new period of austerity, he categorically stated Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, responding to a question from Nautemporiki’s journalist, Nicole Livadaris, during the press conference in the 88th TIF.
Referring to the ELSTAT data, which show strong growth, but widening of the trade balance deficit and the current account deficit, and given the strict fiscal framework, Nicole Livadari asked the prime minister if he is worried about the leeway the government has in spending, welfare state, income support.
“You rightly pointed out that there is a new fiscal framework that puts ceilings on spending on an annual basis, which are determined in the context of discussions we have with the European Commission, and we do not have the possibility to escape from these ceilings. However, as long as our economy is developing at a healthy pace, this gives us more flexibility in our negotiations with the European Commission” noted the Prime Minister. “We are talking about technical and complex issues,” he added.
“We will do better than our initial projections on spending caps”
Kyriakos Mitsotais expressed optimism that “we will do better in terms of our initial projections for the ceilings, without saying that we have inexhaustible resources.” “But our basic obligations will be covered in an absolute way and as our economy will develop and the GDP will increase we will spend more resources in all areas of our policy, whether we are talking about Defense or social policy” he assured.
“The country is never going to live through surveillance eras again”
He then underlined that “the country is not going to go through a period of austerity again and the country is never going to experience periods of supervision or monitoring by the Commission”.
“We fought hard to put these behind us. This is recognized by the markets” he added to conclude that “this priority for the government and for me personally is non-negotiable”.
naftemporiki.gr
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The press conference of Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the 88th TEF