Editor: Translation less than perfect: via Google Translate

PM PRESS
Athens, April 28, 2010
PRIME MINISTER SPEECH AT George Papandreou Cabinet meeting
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to announce today's agenda. We have a bill that would recommend John Ragousis for the new architecture of the Government, called the program "Kallikrates.
We have a second issue, which is the default maximum magistrates to fill the vacant Cabinet positions, four Vice-Presidents of the Supreme Court, two representatives of the Council of State, a Vice President of the Court and the Commissioner General of the Supreme Court to recommend Harris Kastanidis. And remind you that this is the first application of the new law is a democratic consultation with the intervention of the House itself. This is something for us, it is crucial to consolidate the concept of judicial independence.
We are also a bill - legislation issues Ministry of Culture and Tourism - which would suggest the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Paul Geroulanos. Finally, the Vice President Theodore Pangalos will propose a topic on the agenda.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are still constantly fighting for changes to our country in the near future is a different country with a sustainable economy, with growth, with stable jobs for everyone. In Government, we are determined. Our country, in a little time to be a correct course of several decades. I urge everyone in this effort, this panstratia.
Already, we have to change tack. We have entered the path of tidying of the state of sound economic management, but the big changes that will allow the economy to rebuild its forces, to move forward, stronger, more competitive.
We are implementing an ambitious program Stability, Development and Reconstruction, with very specific measures, specific goals and schedule. Within six months, we have instituted major changes:
The tax system to strengthen the revenue to tackle tax evasion, but to have a more equitable redistribution of the burden.
In the public sector to enhance transparency and meritocracy, and to tackle bureaucracy and corruption.
In the system of government, to stop fragmentation and ambiguity functions, facilitate a strategic planning and savings. Like I said, apply today for the first time, and in the field of justice, a democratic process of selecting leadership.
In the institutional framework for entrepreneurship, we have facilities for investment and, already, much effort has begun to bear fruit, with a budget so far performed better than expected despite the fact that they have not yet led to any measures - but that does not make us complacent.
The challenge is national. It is collective. Us all, every one of us. Betting national, is to prove all along that Greece can and wants to change that can and wants to be a reliable place - and will prove it with determination and our actions. We show that we, the Greeks, not diverting the battle. In difficult, we can and do miracles.
Very soon, completed discussions on the program with concrete measures, structural, and economic development to be applied in our country to get out of the crisis, but also to guarantee that the help and support will be given to the country Our assistance from European Union countries and the IMF will catch site.
As Prime Minister of this country, I stand on honest citizens at all. I know and I know that for us this time is a difficult and painful phase in our lives, each person, but throughout the country. I know and realize that these temporary measures, difficult steps, but major and lasting change, we find much better at the end of this course.
I will do whatever it takes to protect my country's economy, the Greek citizen, and we will do together as government.
Our country now has a historic responsibility to herself. It has fallen on its own shoulders of a great historic responsibility for Europe. This responsibility, as we are concerned, to undertake. To assume in full.
On the other hand, and Europe, the European Union, the Eurozone has its own movements - and together, of course - to prevent a fire that flared from the international crisis and to prevent this fire to spread throughout the European and international economy.
This burden, this responsibility is not a country. It is a collective burden. It is against College of Europe, I would say it is against the collective and the international community.
We prove it every day of our determination, our will, to all - and their partners, but even more to Greek citizens.
Today, the Government proves, once again, with the great reversal in the country and bring benefit to the country and its citizens, with major changes as we speak, the program Kallikrates. It is a key initiative for Greece and perspective. After years, we have a new architecture of the Self, the decentralized administration.
It is one of the most prominent evidence of our determination, our decision to move quickly to deep structural changes, ie to change outdated and inefficient structures, functions, making it difficult and decisive steps.
We make a real jump today. First of all, because the "Kallikrates" is a resumption of growth in our country, basing the regional government, which is of critical functions in regional development and is the institutional vehicle of green growth. At the same time, powerful new municipalities will help unlock the growth potential of each local community.
Will be instrumental in the restoration budget, with active mergers structures in government, and decentralized management, which involves significant cutting costs and economies of scale, leading to great savings, ie more efficient management of resources of the Greek people.
Proceeds to one of the largest, if not the broader process of mergers, in this case Primary Business and Corporate Law Treasury. Over 4,000 companies eliminated this way. And we all realize to cut operating costs, let alone and the impact it will have to simplify the bureaucracy, which is also troubled by a Greek citizen, a bureaucracy that often leads to lack of transparency and corruption.
So, while this framework to promote, is a framework that includes financial control and supervision of the Government to ensure transparency, the defense is and the last million attributable to Government.
Apart from the financial dimension, above all, "Kallikrates" embodies our basic philosophy for the same public administration and its role. First priority for the citizen, the first priority to serve the public, the identity of the Administration, and the decision making process with the specific capabilities of each region and the needs of every citizen.
And it is only the beginning, a top firm, solid, incorporating timeless principles and values of the Progressive Movement and the principles and values that will build and support the country's future.
A series of decision-making powers will be transferred from the Ministries of the Government and include areas of fundamental importance, such as the decentralized health system or a decentralized system of Education and Welfare.
Our goal is, is a central state, limited to senior and supervisory responsibilities, limited to a programming project, but the service is next to the public, where those in need in the city, the neighborhood in village.
Break this clientele and centralized system that torments many people, both actors, its own government, business, the initiative of the Greek, who pesters and impress our forces and go into a country that respects the people, through transparency, which delivers developmental forces and defended the ysterima the Greek taxpayer.
It's a big leap for a better state, we all know that the patient is the large public sector is the state. This is a new beginning, marked by "Kallikrates.
The concepts for the Government will be accountable, we are social services close to people, it is direct contact. In this context, the "Kallikrates" added a critical innovation. The term of elected local government expanded from four to five years. The elections coincide in time with the elections.
With this gesture of confidence in the government, take a step further rationalize and reduce costs, while serving to strengthen civic participation in democratic processes.
At this point, I want to congratulate the Ministry of Interior, Decentralization and Electronic Government, and all his staff, and the other Ministers on the very substantial work done. Of course, there will be much more work still to implement, I would say, and education of employees of Government, the transfer of important responsibilities, which is the core of our policies, to enable services to function properly and close to citizen.
The Prime Minister, George Papandreou, following the recommendation of the Minister of Interior, Decentralization and eGovernment, John Ragousis, said:
I want to emphasize that although we know very much of the discussion will be around mergers, the municipalities, geographical distribution, the frame if you want this program, I think that what we highlight is that this is a first vehicle all, not just a new organization chart, but a vehicle Republic, consultation and participation of citizens.
It is a vehicle for growth, which will free up local and regional forces in every region of our country, a vehicle for social welfare, the welfare state, which will bring services closer to the citizen and allow greater creativity and initiative in effective Greek citizen.
They think it is very important and I want to thank again the Interior Ministry, all partners, and John Ragousis and open debate on the details of this project are many.