Kostas Skrekas

"The imposition of fines proves to citizens and society that the government is carrying out inspections in the market. That the government is in favor of the free market, but not the unscrupulous market," Development Minister Kostas Skrekas said on Wednesday, speaking to public broadcaster ERT, commenting on the high fines imposed on three electrical goods chains for misleading discounts.

Fines and measures against profiteering in the broader market will be announced soon, noted Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a visit to the Ministry of Development on Saturday.

Talks between Greek Development Minister Kostas Skrekas and US Ambassador in Athens George Tsunis on Thursday focused on furthering Greece's collaboration with the United States in view of attracting more American investments.

Skrekas also referred to a considerable interest in renewable energy sources by American investors.

The "Household Basket" measure, an institution that was strongly contested mainly by the market but which was ultimately the previous government's main tool to combat inflation in grocery items, has now been in effect for 35 weeks.

New Minister of Development Kostas Skrekas left open the possibility of a continuation of the "Household Basket" measure following the new cabinet's swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, referring, however, to the announcements that the prime minister will make on Wednesday at the first meeting of the new government.

Brussels has signaled the end of the emergency measures to deal with the energy crisis, overturning the regime of the unilateral extension secured by the previous government regarding the ceiling on the wholesale market and subsidies on electricity bills until September.

The Ministry of Environment and Energy has extended the suspension of the "adjustment clause" in electricity tariffs for one more quarter, until September 30, along with the extension for the same period of the excess revenue recovery mechanism in the wholesale electricity market; since last July to date, this has contributed over 3.25 billion euros to the Energy Transition Fund for subsidizing

A team comprising environmental inspectors and financial police, accompanied by a public prosecutor and a strong law enforcement contingent, began audits on the popular tourist island of Mykonos on Monday amid a proliferation of complaints and reports of arbitrary and illegal construction activity. 

Greece's proposal for strengthening European energy corridors was supported by the European Commission and 14 member-states, Greek Environment and Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas said on Tuesday.

The implementation of the proposals for the upgrading of the trans-European energy networks that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tabled at last week's European Union summit will bring geopolitical, economic and energy benefits to Greece, the state-run Athens-Macedonian News Agency reported on Sunday.