ATHENS — The coronavirus pandemic served as a springboard to implement major infrastructural reforms in Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said at the online New Economy (Nueva Economia) Forum in Spain on Friday, while also noting the repercussions the global event had on the Greek economy.

These reforms, he said, will make the Greek economy more competitive, create new jobs, and limit income inequality. He particularly named changes in making investments more attractive, improving efficiency in the public administration, digitizing the state, and moving toward the green transition.

These reforms will be boosted by the EU's Recovery Fund, another available tool.

Among other topics he raised were Greece's proposal for a vaccination certificate in Europe that would facilitate tourism. "If someone is vaccinated and there's proof of that, he could enter the country without significant restrictions or a quarantine," he said as an example. Currently, Greece has vaccinated over 6 percent of its population by now with the first of two shots, a rate that could have accelerated if the required number of vaccines were delivered.

In terms of Greek-Turkish relations, he said "we are depending to a great degree on European support for the resolution of issues with our neighbor," especially as the differences between the two countries affect the entire EU.

Other participants in the discussion included European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, People's Party of Spain President Pablo Casado and European People's Party Secretary General Antonio Lopez-Isturiz.