At the opening of the meeting, in the presence of the company's senior executives, the Minister highlighted, among other points, the following:
"The current programming period of 2021-2027, along with the mid-term review of the ESIF programs, presents a significant opportunity for the country to strengthen its growth momentum, which has been secured since 2019. Today, Greece ranks second among the EU member states in terms of absorption of ESIF resources, and for the first time during the 2021-2027 period, it has achieved this leading position, according to the official data from the European Commission. This achievement was not automatic – it was attained through the hard work of all of us, as it is people who deliver results.
The European Union's Cohesion Policy is crucial in reducing regional disparities, promoting convergence, increasing investment, and creating new jobs. There cannot be a Europe without regional convergence, and there cannot be true convergence without Cohesion Policy. It is the most important tool the EU currently possesses to address modern challenges and to make Europe more competitive, resilient, and socially just. Cohesion is also a precondition for Europe’s autonomy and its defense capabilities.
MOD is a valuable partner of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance and the State, effectively supporting the services of the ESIF and the beneficiaries to successfully complete their projects. On this occasion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the staff of MOD for their substantial and decisive contribution to the successful implementation of the ESIF to date. I have full confidence in MOD's ability to successfully carry out highly complex projects."
Subsequently, the President of MOD provided a brief report on the company's activities over the past two years, particularly focusing on the new roles and initiatives the company has recently undertaken. This includes the GR-eco islands initiative and the Roadmap for enhancing the management capacity of beneficiaries. Finally, he assured that the company’s primary focus remains on the effective and meaningful support of the ESIF Special Services and beneficiaries, in order to accelerate the maturation and implementation of programs and projects.
