Hatzidakis: Lies and incompetence will set the country back
"Eight goals for Greece of 2030"
"The real challenge for Greece of 2030 is to safeguard our national successes and build upon them. This raises an unavoidable political question: Who can lead Greece into this new phase? Those who believe in or spread conspiracy theories? Those whose political presence is built on poison and hostility? Those who remain decades behind, refusing to adapt to the new Greek and international reality? Those who lack even the basic knowledge to understand complex economic and international problems? Or those who relentlessly and tiresomely return to recipes of demagoguery and populism, constantly promising everything to everyone — either because they have no shame, or because they have nothing more serious to say?"
These questions were posed by the Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking today at the 30th Annual Government Roundtable organized in Athens by The Economist. "Will the successes of Greece in previous years continue, or will they be just a temporary parenthesis? The question is not theoretical," he added. He highlighted three of these successes that are timely:
"First, the increase in foreign direct investment in 2025 to a record level. Unprecedented. It is undisputed and not concentrated in one sector, such as real estate as the urban myth claims. It spans many different sectors.
Second, the reduction of unemployment. From 18% to 8%. In 7 years. An additional 560,000 jobs were created in a country of 10-10.5 million inhabitants.
Third, the reversal of the brain drain. We now have brain gain. In 2023 and 2024, many more young people are returning to Greece from abroad than those leaving."
"All these indicators," noted Kostis Hatzidakis, "are interconnected and show that the economy has entered an upward trajectory that translates into positive prospects, especially for young people. We must not only safeguard these successes without yielding to the familiar temptations of demagoguery and populism, but also build upon them so that Greece moves to another level of development."
At the same time, he identified 8 new successes the country should pursue by 2030:
First, to exploit artificial intelligence to enhance productivity and accelerate growth. "This is not self-evident; it must be done for both the public and private sectors, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises that risk being marginalized if they don't. We have the scientific potential; we must proceed in a coordinated manner in this direction," he said.
Second, to make use of the European Union's new Competitiveness Fund, which for now at least appears to have no national quotas. "Based on our population, we could have a share — on top of the other funds — of 8 to 10 billion euros. That's half a Recovery Fund. We will get it if our universities, in cooperation with businesses and research centers, make worthy proposals to the European Commission. This requires collaboration between universities and businesses, and businesses with universities."
Third, to strengthen growth rates and convergence with the advanced countries of the European Union. "We need higher incomes. How? Clearly through pro-investment policy, tax reduction, more private investment, lower social security contributions. So that Greece continues to send the message that we are moving in the direction we have already charted, always pleasantly surprising. Only then will we satisfy the just demand of broad popular strata for higher incomes."
Fourth, for the country to finally acquire a comprehensive spatial and urban planning framework. "We are already closing three pending issues: spatial planning for industry, for renewable energy sources, and for tourism. Local and special urban plans will follow. If all these proceed smoothly — and it requires effort — they can simultaneously contribute to environmental protection and further boost development."
Fifth, to support the family because it is a national necessity. "We have the second most acute demographic problem after Italy. If we do not take more advanced measures for the family, we will have an issue both at the national and obviously at the economic level."
Sixth, to further promote equal opportunities and social mobility. "We need social cohesion. We want equal opportunities for children growing up in mountain villages, on islands, in remote Greece, compared to children in Athens. This requires specific measures for better schools, more digital capabilities, quality health services, and equal access to labor market opportunities in every corner of the country."
Seventh, to enshrine in our Constitution the evaluation of civil servants and link it to the lifting of permanent tenure. "No one is above criticism. We need a more efficient public sector. The two tools I mentioned can contribute to making a new start in public administration."
Eighth, to shield Greece against hybrid threats. "Security no longer concerns only our borders, whose protection has already been strengthened. It also concerns cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, energy resilience, supply chains, the instrumentalization of the migration issue we often see, data protection, and combating misinformation. All these are issues we need to start addressing yesterday. And they are matters of national security."
"With our stance," concluded Kostis Hatzidakis, "with the stance of the Greeks, Sisyphus can wait this time. Let us move forward with common sense, unity, confidence, and optimism." "A solution for the country," he added, "can be provided by those who believe that progress is built step by step, with seriousness and a plan. Those who believe in real European reforms. Those who invest in productivity, innovation, extroversion, and meritocracy. Those who tell citizens the truth, even when it is not pleasant. New Democracy has proven to be a force of constant national renewal. And under the leadership of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, it is the only political force on which Greece can pin its hopes."
This was followed by a discussion of the Deputy Prime Minister with three of the most important industrialists of our country: Dimitris Papalexopoulos (Chairman of Titan), Michalis Stasinopoulos (Chairman of Viohalco), and Theodoros Tryfon (Chairman of the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies and CEO of ELPEN).
During the discussion, Kostis Hatzidakis stated:
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Regarding how to ensure citizens' prosperity in the period up to 2030: "We have two ways to proceed. The first is to repeat the mistakes of the past, relying on consumption and borrowing. The other alternative is to rely on investments, entrepreneurship, innovation, and exports. For us the choice is absolutely clear. In order for recent national achievements to last and to build upon them, we must continue to combine fiscal prudence with a business-friendly approach. At the same time, focus as much as possible on issues such as productivity and innovation. Without, of course, forgetting the issue of wealth distribution, which is why I mentioned equal opportunities for all."
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Regarding enhancing brain gain: "We have already adopted important measures that contributed in this direction. The most significant of these is the 50% tax reduction for seven years. Also, I believe that the national successes of recent years have helped convince young Greeks living abroad to return. We are determined to continue on the same path, encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation."
For his part, D. Papalexopoulos emphasized that industry creates jobs, is export-oriented, and offers diversification from shipping and tourism. He stated that he is more optimistic about Greece than about Europe and that the macro-environment is much better than before. Additionally, the share of industry in GDP has been rising in recent years. Foreign direct investment has doubled in the last ten years in Greece, while in Europe it is falling.
M. Stasinopoulos noted that export companies did not experience the 2008-2009 crisis, adding that the path to industrialization of the country is a one-way street. It must be understood how important manufacturing is; there must be changes in the country's production model, he added. But there is no Ministry of Industry, he noted, while there is a ministry for tourism or the agricultural sector. Greece must be more present in industrial forums.
Finally, Th. Tryfon, after referring to the negative results of the period 2010-2018 (withdrawal of investment funds, etc.), emphasized that from 2019 onwards Greece turned a page. He urged entrepreneurs to take greater risks and expand their activities abroad.
