Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with European Commissioner for Energy & Housing Dan Jørgensen at Maximos Mansion on Thursday.

They discussed priorities related to Jørgensen's portfolio and issues of Greek interest, especially the reduction of energy price lists for households and businesses, as well as the importance of connectiviy projects of common European interest for the Union's energy security.

The prime minister and the commissioner also discussed housing policies and incentives implemented by the government that are aligned with the commissioner's priorities for affordable housing.

"Affordable housing was not an issue in Greece a few years ago. It has become a problem as a result of economic development, which has added pressure to the real estate market. We have assumed many initiatives related to affordable housing. I believe you have been briefed about some of them," Mitsotakis told Jørgensen.

Mitsotakis added that the issue "is one of our main priorities, and we are also allocating the economic surplus we are creating due to sound management of our public finances, among others in order to support those pay rent. For example, we announced that as of November we shall reimburse one month's rent to those leasing a house - obviously depending on income criteria - that will benefit several Greeks, especially younger ones who are now forced to rent and do not have the financial ability to buy their own house." 

During the dialog at the start of their meeting, the Commissioner also addressed the issue of high energy prices and said that the EU's new budget would allow a huge investment in connectivity and infrastructure, linking member states in the energy sector to help reduce energy costs. The Commission's three basic goals in energy, he said, included reducing prices for businesses and households, becoming independent of Russian energy and particularly natural gas, and decarbonization, as the fight against  climate change needs to be supported more strongly.

In terms of housing, Jørgensen noted that it is at the top of the agenda in many member states, and is an issue that ultimately affects the economy by restricting younger generations' careers and movement. He said that he planned to submit a comprehensive plan for affordable housing at the start of the coming year, and welcomed proposals by the Greek prime minister about what it should include.