Greece is going through a remarkable transformation at the moment. What do you think is behind that?
This transformation is as a result of the stability provided by the new democracy government led by our Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The biggest accomplishment of this government has been rebuilding trust inside and outside the country. Over the past two years, there has been a rise in the real value of our stock market building year-on-year. Our GDP growth last year was significantly above the Eurozone average.
Our success is driven by the hard work of the Greek people and the excellent stewardship of the New Democracy government.
We have also achieved great results through utilizing Greece's natural assets, as in the tourism sector. Another important factor though is the efficient allocation of EU funding. Only in my special hometown in central Macedonia, a programme was announced last week for new businesses and new scientists. A new program also, Greece 2.0, is expected to be launched August 2026. That will affect the lives of many Greek people.
Greek people are coming together and doing what needed to be done in difficult times. This period we've got two generations, millennials and Gen Zers, that have been hit very hard by the crisis. It's the 10th year anniversary of the big crisis that we all remember, and these two generations are either forced to leave Greece in order to make a living somewhere else, or being faced by the perception that we have done something wrong. And we are punished with constant austerity all this time.
So it's our society's duty to bring these people back home, back to Greece, and make Greece continue to thrive.
Expanding on your point about generational impact, how do you believe that Greek people can be brought back home?
Education is fundamental to achieving this goal. To bring the best part of our society, the best part of the nation, our young people, back home, back to Greece.
One way to do this is through the opening of private universities in Greece. This will bring transformative change for the nation as a whole. These institutions, all of which are not for profit, will open in September and will play a crucial role in boosting the Greek economy.
They're predicted to contribute over 10 billion euros over five years, including 1.9 billion euros in state revenue and the creation of over 73,000 new jobs.
Greece is the crossroads of the Balkans and these universities will not only attract students from Greece, but also students from across the Balkan region, transforming Greece into a huge educational hub for the area. This will have a long-term beneficial economic gain for both Greece and the wider region.
It is to the credit of New Democracy that have made this bold step, which will provide space for innovation supporting the future generations to live, work, bring up their families in Greece. It has been debated for year after year this constitution change to bring private universities in Greece, and I think that this is the game changer in Greece educational system.
What other incentives has the new democracy government taken to encourage this homecoming?
There are so many bright Greek minds working abroad who have received excellent education. Over 40,000 Greek higher education students are currently standing abroad, the highest number among all the EU nations in proportion to population.
That is why the Greek government has introduced innovative rebrand scheme to help skilled Greeks from across the globe to come home. This includes a very attractive tax regime, a 50% tax exception and capital gain tax the first seven years of getting back home to Greece.
And also the same scheme has hosted events in global hubs for the Greek diaspora, including Amsterdam and London, that directly connect some of our most talented and skilled expats with companies looking to hire home-grown talent in Greece. We are focused as a country on attracting, nurturing and keeping the talent, because this is our future.
As an expert in foreign direct investment, do you think these education reforms will help close the skills gap and make Greece a more attractive place for investors?
Truth be told, one of the first questions we receive from a newcomer, a new entrepreneur wishing to establish a new financial activity in Greece, apart from location, cost, tax, is workforce, human resources. Who is going to work, what are the skill sets of people, where are they coming from?
So it's crucial in order to bring more and more foreign direct investments in our country, to have a workforce that's capable to serve the needs, to meet the needs of these companies that wish to invest in Greece.
At least 13 globally recognized universities are preparing to open campuses in Greece in the next academic year. These increasing graduates and skilled workers will create long-term benefits for the economy. Positioning Greece as a top location for investment. And prompting investors to fund new venture in Greece, because they will know that they will have the people to work for them in Greece.
As well as being a successful lawyer and politician, you're also of course a successful mother and academic. How do these overlapping roles contribute to your understanding of modern Greece?
'Successful mother' is to be considered. But navigating my often competing roles as a mother, lawyer, academic, and politician has given me a real understanding of modern Greece and the need for national resilience and leadership.
As a mother I've come to appreciate the forms of resilience that hold families and communities together, especially during times of uncertainty. Skills that I forged as a businesswoman navigating Greece's financial crisis under the previous government. As a lawyer and academic who works across Europe, I've been trained to think critically, ask difficult questions, and provide direction.
I've learned leadership is not about control, it's about listening, building trust, and responding with courage when the stakes are high. The exact same skills needed as a mother. My responsibility to contribute to my family, my nation, my academic passion, and of course, my business is a feeling that I want to pass on to my daughters.
We know of course as well that you have your book coming out, which covers your reflections on Greece and its global role. What are the key takeaways from your book?
The key takeaways are that long-term safety and prosperity that we experience in Greece today are neither free nor inevitable nowadays. So we must protect and nurture them.
To sustain prosperity, one must invest in hard work, innovation and cooperation. These conditions are not permanent pictures of life, but achievements that must be protected and renewed.
The Greek story has proven that. We know that economic collapse, social unrest and conflict in one place inevitably sends shockwaves elsewhere.
That's why, when we help stabilize ourselves and uplift our neighbors, practically we help secure our own future. Shared peace, prosperity, stability are not luxuries, but are all necessary to create the conditions in which Greece can prosper and continue thriving.
This interview took place on May 19th 2025
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