Greece's governing New Democracy party spokesperson Alexandra Sdoukou outlined the government's 2030 economic roadmap and rejected Turkey's declaration of maritime parks during a broadcast on ERTnews.
Speaking on the public broadcaster's news channel, Sdoukou said the government would announce permanent financial relief measures taking effect in 2027 alongside a four-year development plan at the upcoming Thessaloniki International Fair.
New Democracy is Greece's center-right ruling party, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Thessaloniki International Fair is an annual commercial and political forum held in Greece's second-largest city where leaders traditionally announce economic policy goals.
Economic roadmap and tax relief
Sdoukou said the upcoming economic announcements would focus on expanding the country's economic pie to directly benefit citizens' incomes. She explained that the plan aims to reduce tax burdens, create jobs, and build a more transparent state apparatus that simplifies daily transactions for the public.
Rejection of Turkish maritime parks
Addressing regional tensions, Sdoukou declared that Turkey's unilateral designation of two national marine parks extending beyond its territorial waters into international waters and the Greek continental shelf is illegal and carries no legal effect.
She said Turkey cannot establish rights unrecognized by international law through its own decisions or maps. She added that Greece designated its own marine areas in full accordance with international legal procedures.
Greece and Turkey have long-standing disputes over maritime boundaries, continental shelf rights, and airspace in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean.
Sdoukou noted that Greek foreign policy initiatives have consistently defended national red lines on the ground. She cited initiatives that have drawn Turkish opposition, including European Union-approved marine parks, energy agreements, maritime spatial planning, and Exclusive Economic Zone demarcations.
She also highlighted Greece's upgraded defense capabilities through necessary military equipment acquisitions and strategic alliances formed with Egypt, Israel, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and France. She said Greece maintains a strong international standing and does not define its policies based on reactions from neighboring countries.
Wildfire response and forest protection
Turning to recent natural disasters, Sdoukou addressed summer wildfires in Halkidiki, Salamina, and Skyros, describing every lost human life as a tragedy that demands serious debate rather than political posturing or reality-beautifying claims.
Halkidiki is a popular tourist peninsula in northern Greece, Salamina is an island in the Saronic Gulf near Athens, and Skyros is located in the Aegean Sea. Greece frequently faces intense summer wildfires due to hot, dry Mediterranean weather conditions.
Sdoukou noted that although Greece ranks sixth in burned area behind Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, and Turkey, the government would not claim success based on comparative figures. Instead, she called for continuous adaptation to extreme weather conditions.
She cited the rapid response to the Salamina wildfire, where conditions worsened within seven minutes of the initial 14:43 notification. Aerial, maritime, and ground firefighting forces extinguished the fire within hours and evacuated local settlements safely. In Halkidiki, she said emergency forces minimized damage in a densely populated forest resort area.
Sdoukou defended the national Antinero forest prevention program, noting that it has created firebreaks, cleared flammable material, and clarified institutional responsibilities despite opposition criticism.
She added that Greece has recorded a record number of private plot clearings, deployed early-detection drones, expanded aerial assets, and used the 112 emergency alert system to save lives. The Fire Service workforce has also grown from roughly 13,000 to more than 18,000 personnel.
Closing her remarks, Sdoukou stated that civil protection allows no room for self-congratulatory celebrations or opposition rhetoric built on ashes, emphasizing the government's obligation to protect lives and property against increasingly extreme climate events.
