Days of Panhellenic exams, and I want to start with a thought for the candidates," Kyriakos Mitsotakis says in his Sunday post with the weekly review of the government's work.
"I know that these days everything seems to be judged by a written exam, in just a few hours. But that's not the case. The Panhellenic exams are an important milestone, not the only one. So enter the room with a clear mind, without burdening yourself with more anxiety than you already have. No result can measure the value, abilities, or path of a young person. And certainly, life opens more paths than we can often see at this age. I wish everyone good luck and that your efforts over this period are rewarded. As it is perfectly natural these days to feel more pressure or anxiety, the Ministry of Education has set up until June 30 the free telephone line 1550 for psychological support of candidates and their families, a nationwide network of psychologists from the Centers for Interdisciplinary Assessment, Counseling and Support. Do not hesitate to use it if you feel you need it.
Let's move on to the government's work. I will start with the cost of living, as the ongoing developments in the Middle East are prolonging the energy crisis and, consequently, affecting prices and citizens' daily lives. That's why we decided to extend the diesel subsidy for June as well, with a support of 15 cents per liter, so that its price remains about 30 cents lower compared to March. At the end of the month, the emergency support of 150 euros per child will also be paid, without any application, with expanded income criteria covering over 80% of the country's households, so that nearly one million families benefit from this measure. I know that these emergency measures alone do not solve the problem of high prices that continues to pressure many households. But they provide at least a small relief in a difficult period.
I have mentioned several times recently the hydrocarbon explorations and the growing interest of major international energy groups in our country. I return to this because each new step has its own significance. This time, Chevron and HELLENiQ ENERGY submitted a request for the participation of the American energy giant in the concession of Block 10, off the Gulf of Kyparissia in the South Ionian. This consortium, I recall, has signed lease contracts with the Hellenic Republic for four new offshore areas south of Crete and the Peloponnese. This development adds to a series of moves confirming that Greece is now seen as a country with serious energy prospects. It does not, of course, prejudge any result. But it shows that international interest not only remains strong but is expanding, gradually strengthening our country's position on the energy map of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Now to the Recovery Fund, where we are entering the final stretch for its completion. During the week, our country submitted a dual disbursement request, the 7th for the loan component and the 8th for the reforms and projects component, totaling 1.63 billion euros. For those wondering if the reform component of the program is progressing, the answer is yes: to date we have completed 86.15% of the reform milestones that, in a measurable way, digitize the state and economy, drive the country's energy transition, simplify the business environment, reduce bureaucracy, upgrade public health and education, and accelerate the administration of justice.
One of these reform milestones was the Cadastre, the complete mapping of the country's real estate, a pending issue that had plagued the country for almost two centuries. Its completion is now very close, as the posting of cadastral data covers 99% of the territory. This means that citizens can now, through the digital map https://maps.ktimatologio.gr/?locale=el, see their property data consolidated, check them, and, where necessary, request corrections. This is a deep institutional reform that far exceeds the limits of a simple administrative change. The Cadastre is a foundation for legal certainty, investments, protection of citizens' property, and the overall developmental path of the country. Our goal is to definitively close this 200-year-old pending issue by the end of the year. And we will succeed.
However, the completion of the Recovery Fund does not mean the end of our emblematic innovative policies. One such example is the 'Prolamvano' (Prevent) program, which will continue in the coming years, as we have already secured funding of 300 million euros for the period 2027-2030 for free preventive screenings for breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular risk, obesity in adults and minors, and kidney dysfunction. Prevention was for decades the 'poor relative' of the health system in our country. We chose to change that, and the results are already visible. More than 317,000 of our fellow citizens detected a finding early and were able to receive appropriate medical care. That is why preventive screening programs are now a permanent part of our public health policy.
I remain in the health sector, as the National Health System (ESY) acquired another renovated Emergency Department, this time at the 'Metaxa' Anticancer Hospital of Piraeus. For patients, this means better conditions, shorter waits, and more quality care at a particularly difficult time in their lives. The new spaces and modern medical equipment allow the staff to manage emergencies more effectively and provide better services. With the completion of the overall renovation of 'Metaxa', thanks to the donation by Allwyn, in three years we will be talking about a virtually new oncology hospital.
On labor issues, we are bringing a new bill that takes another step towards a fairer labor market, where the same work is paid the same way, regardless of gender. Although the principle of equal pay is already enshrined, in practice wage inequalities still exist, not only in Greece but throughout Europe. By transposing the relevant European Directive, a comprehensive framework of pay transparency is introduced for the first time, both before hiring and during the employment relationship, and if a pay gap is identified without objective explanation, the employer will be obliged to take corrective interventions and reform the company's pay structure, while judicial protection for employees is significantly strengthened. In general, speaking about the bill, it is worth noting that to date 65 proposals submitted by the National Social Partners, representatives of workers and employers, have been incorporated into it. I also want to highlight another important provision: the inclusion of nurses, nursing assistants, rescuers, and ambulance crews of the National Emergency Center (EKAV) in the heavy and unhealthy work category. A just demand for people who are daily on the front line of the ESY and emergency care.
In 2019, when we were first elected, I spoke to you about a state that is more citizen-friendly. A state that does not burden you, respects your time, and puts an end to unnecessary bureaucracy. Seven years later, the steps we have taken in this direction are many. But that does not mean we stop. Because a modern state is judged not only by major reforms but also by whether it solves small problems that trouble citizens daily. One of these was that the public sector often asked citizens to submit documents and certificates that were already in some other public service. This is changing. Now the search for these supporting documents will be done internally, without the citizen needing to seek them out and submit them again and again. For example, you will no longer need to provide a marriage certificate, a copy of your degree, your military discharge certificate, a certificate of next of kin, various cadastral certificates, etc. We are also setting clear deadlines for the administration. When a citizen is waiting for a decision that results in a financial benefit or compensation, the state must respond within three months. Of course, anyone who attempts to defraud the state with a false declaration will face fines of up to 50,000 euros, as well as the prescribed criminal consequences.
Before closing, I want to mention two important interventions in the field of culture. Very significant and particularly honorable is the news that in Malia, Crete, the Minoan Palace Center now officially bears the UNESCO stamp as a World Heritage Site, confirming the unique position of Minoan civilization in global cultural heritage. This recognition is not only symbolic. The UNESCO stamp is an important international distinction, but our real responsibility is to keep these sites alive and functional. That is why we are implementing projects worth 3.5 million euros that protect and upgrade the archaeological site, shielding it against the impacts of the climate crisis. We are doing the same in Rhodes, where restoration work on the emblematic National Theater, one of the most important architectural landmarks of the island, is progressing at an intensive pace. When the project is completed, the city will once again have a modern cultural venue of international standards, worthy of its history and significance.
I close with a number that says a lot about our society and concerns sports. According to the annual report of e-Kouros for 2025, the digital system for recording the sports ecosystem that we institutionalized two years ago, 1 in 4 citizens of the country is directly or indirectly involved in amateur sports. The data also show that the number of male and female athletes increased by 4.05% in one year, while 1 in 3 middle school-aged children is registered with a sports club. This is a very optimistic picture that confirms the dynamism of sports in our country. e-Kouros now allows us to know precisely the needs of each sport and each region, so that we can design better policies, distribute resources more fairly, and support clubs and infrastructure more effectively. Soon the My Kouros App will follow, so that athletes, parents, and fans have easy access to useful information about clubs, events, and sporting activities that interest them.
That concludes today's review. Tomorrow we welcome the first month of summer. So, happy new month and happy Sunday!"
