ATHENS – “From the first moment the government took office, it implemented a well-thought-out plan to restructure the Greek economy. This plan is paying off and thanks to its progress, Greece is managing to find the resources to cope with the demands of successive major external crises,” government spokesperson Yannis Economou said on Thursday during a press briefing.

“The most impressive thing is that despite the constantly intensifying global energy crisis and the uncertainties in the international environment, Greece is still developing strongly. The Hellenic statistical authority announced on Wednesday that the Greek economy grew by 7.7% in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same quarter last year, almost double the rate of the Eurozone average of 4.1% and ranking the country as the fifth fastest-growing economy across the EU.

Economou said that “of course, like the whole of Europe, due to the energy crisis, we have a very difficult winter ahead of us. The government fully understands the anxieties of society. That is why its main priority is to deal with the effects of the energy crisis and in this direction, by evaluating the new data, the decisions to support society for the next period are prepared. Always correctly balancing the fiscal margins that exist.”

He reiterated that the prime minister will specify both the emergency and permanent measures for the relief of society at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).

He also referred to the proposals that Greece will submit to the agenda of the European Energy Council to be held on Friday. “On Friday, at the extraordinary Council of Energy Ministers meeting, Greece will ask for immediate and brave measures and decisions to be taken. We have crossed the zero point and now any delay is unthinkable.”