Do you believe that factors such as price increases and the situation prevailing at the volcano in Thira will have a negative impact on the results of this year’s tourist season?
Tourism has long been one of the main sources of income for our country’s economy, while also employing a significant part of our workforce, especially young people. Greece is a constant magnet for tourists from abroad and offers various alternatives thanks to its natural beauty, culture and history. Unfortunately, the situation is not as encouraging for Greek citizens, who, due to punctuality in recent years, have indeed faced difficulties in trying to organize their holidays on Greek islands. Therefore, the factors you mentioned are indeed very important, but I believe that this year our country will also be generally successful in this area in terms of the arrival of tourists from abroad.
How do you think that the punctuality observed recently could be addressed?
At the moment, our country is in a very high position in terms of accuracy among European countries. As a Greek MEP and member of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group, I have been trying all this time to highlight the importance of this issue. I believe that by utilizing more arable land, tax breaks for farmers and agriculturalists and limiting exports to specific products, we will be able to limit the negative consequences. In any case, the cost of living in our country has become prohibitive for the average Greek citizen and we must take immediate measures.
How do you feel about your re-election as a Greek MEP?
It is undoubtedly very important to represent your country in one of the most important European institutions. My re-election, however, was even more important this time because in a way the efforts of the previous term were rewarded and the work we have done all these years was evaluated. This is because throughout the last period we have not focused on what we will do if we are elected but on what we have managed to do in the previous years. We will continue as a Eurogroup now representing the Greeks with our heads held high and always with our doors and our telephones open at the service of the Greeks.
What is your position regarding the political group to which you belong, the ECR?
As I have mentioned many times, I feel particularly proud as a member of this group both for the principles it advocates and for the work it has produced. Thanks to his proposals, insightful observations and productive work, he has managed to emerge as a central factor, occupy important positions and influence the flow of work in the European Parliament, always guided by the interests of citizens and the defense of our basic positions.
