“We have created over 500,000 jobs since taking office,” said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, addressing delegates at the European People’s Party (EPP) youth conference titled Securing Europe’s Future: Overcoming Challenges, last Friday.
Reflecting on his academic years, Mitsotakis acknowledged the complexities of today’s world.
“We are now in 2024, and the world seems far more complicated than when I graduated,” Mitsotakis said. “The main challenge for leaders, and for you as the next generation of leaders, is to navigate this complexity while maintaining optimism and charting a clear path forward through the confusion.”
Highlighting his government’s achievements, Mitsotakis said that job creation is a top priority.
“We have created over 500,000 jobs since we took office. Unemployment has dropped from 17.5 per cent to below 10 per cent. We brought 300,000 Greeks back to the country—many of them young people who had left during the crisis. We’ve also attracted significant foreign direct investments.”
He credited these accomplishments to sound fiscal management, cautioning against overspending.
“It’s easy and tempting to spend beyond your means, but we’ve succeeded while keeping public finances in order,” he added.
Mitsotakis encouraged attendees to read the Draghi Report, describing it as vital to understanding Europe’s current crossroads. “We face existential decisions about our future, particularly regarding security and defence. With Donald Trump’s re-election in the US, Europe can no longer afford to rely solely on others for its security.”
On climate policy, Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s leadership in mitigation strategies but warned against undermining European industry.
“We must balance the green transition with maintaining competitiveness. While contributing to global emissions reduction, we must ensure our businesses remain viable, protect our farmers, and avoid forcing consumers into unaffordable changes like prematurely adopting electric vehicles.”
He underscored the importance of pacing the green transition to avoid economic disruption.
Addressing artificial intelligence, Mitsotakis stressed the need for intergenerational dialogue to address emerging concerns.
“Engaging with the next generation is essential to recognise their challenges and develop policies that address them.”
Finally, he called for greater citizen involvement, particularly among young people, in public affairs: “We need more participation in what we call in Greece ‘the affairs of the city’—the common good.”
