Marinakis: Greece is finally starting to become Europe

The key element for the government is credibility and ensuring that the citizens will now see all that the prime minister and New Democracy promised before the elections being turned into action in Parliament, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said in an interview with the radio station SKAI 100.3 on Friday.

"...Greece - after eight years of fighting to stay in Europe - is finally starting to become Europe with specific actions and initiatives, for which we will, of course, be judged," Marinakis said.

Summarising the government's goals, he said the aim was for unemployment to drop to 8 pct and for wages in the public and private sectors to improve, so that the minimum wage was set at 950 euros a month and the average wage would rise to 1500 euros a month. Another goal was for public-sector staff to see wage increases after 14 years, he said, while he also cited measures to boost the income of pensioners.

Marinakis also outlined targets such as increasing the share of renewables in electricity production to 80 pct, the evaluation of civil servants by the public, training for unemployed people and workers, certification for digital and technical services, improvements in public transport and bringing public debt to below 140 pct of GDP.

Regarding education, he said this will include a revision of article 16 of the Constitution and allowing foreign universities to set up branches in Greece, as well as better schools.

A second goal, he said, was delivering "prosperity for all" so that every Greek man and woman would see an aspect of all that the prime minister has said in their daily life.

As an example, he cited a measure that he said was the essence of the government's philosophy, namely a 10 pct reduction of the ENFIA property tax for people who insure their homes against natural disasters.