Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis repeated his public apology in the name of all those who have governed the country in recent years, but especially for himself personally, following last week's train collision that left dozens of people dead.
"We take responsibility and we cannot, should not and do not want to hide behind a series of human errors," he said in his opening statement at the start of the cabinet meeting on Thursday.
The fact that the rail telemanagement system would be operational within a few months made his own pain even greater, Mitsotakis said, because he had not had time to install it before tragedy struck.
"The last thing I'm interested in right now is getting into a sterile argument over who is to blame. I reply: We are all to blame. And let's confess this with courage," the prime minister said.
"From governments and administrations that for years stalled a critical project to certain trade unions that prevented any evaluation of our railway staff," he underlined, pointing out that the apportioning of blame will be done by Justice swiftly and to the highest possible degree.
"But the tragedy happened with us at the helm of the country," the prime minister noted, before guaranteeing absolute transparency in the investigation to identify the errors and judge those involved fairly.
He also pledged to take immediate measures to improve the problematic safety of the railways at the level of new technologies and human resources management.
Mitsotakis explained that listening to the dialogues from the night of the accident, he felt "anger and shame, but I have an obligation to turn these feelings into creative action."
Presenting the context of the interventions, the premier spoke of giving priority to supporting the relatives of the victims, financially and psychologically, and to the relevant announcements that will be made immediately and with the necessary discretion, and to the new operating and safety framework that is being prepared so that trains can start running again with the maximum possible safety (two stationmasters at each station at all times, even if it is necessary to cut back transport services) but also the stricter legal framework for vandalism and theft targeting the railway network and the immediate start of recruitments.
Lastly he referred to the rail telemanagement system, saying that he will move heaven and earth to ensure this is completed as soon as possible.
Mitsotakis met with visiting European Union railway officials at Maximos Mansion on Wednesday.
Specifically, the premier met with executive director of the European Union Agency for Railways Josef Doppelbauer, the European Commission director for land transport Kristian Schmidt, and Elzbieta Lukaniuk, responsible for railway security at the office of European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean. The European Commission's Athens alternate mission head, Eleni Paleologou, also attended the meeting.
The EU officials set out some suggestions that could be used in drawing up a plan to improve the railroad network's operation and safety, upgrading infrastructure, adopting best practices, and using EU funding most efficiently, noted government sources.
Mitsotakis underlined that he will fully utilize the expertise and experience of European services in the context of the fully transparent investigation into the Tempi train disaster.
Minister of State responsible for Transport & Infrastructure Giorgos Gerapetritis attended the meeting, as did the head of the prime minister's diplomatic office, Ambassador Anna-Maria Bouboura.
The commitment of the European Commission to assist where necessary after the train tragedy in Tempi was expressed by the vice-president of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, in a press conference after the weekly meeting of the College of Commissioners. At the same time, he expressed everyone's "pain at the unspeakable destruction".
"Today, in the small hours, marked one week since the dark moment of the tragedy in Tempi. As a member of the College of Commissioners and also as a Greek Commissioner, today, which is the first time I have had the opportunity to be in the press room of the European Commission, I want to express the pain of all of us for this unspeakable disaster. There are no words, no words to express what I feel at this time", said Schinas.
He also reiterated "the president's commitment, as made clear in her communication with the Greek prime minister, to help wherever necessary," noting that European Commission experts were already in Athens "as well speak" to discuss the details of this cooperation.
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