What did the prime minister say after the end of the summit in Brussels
THE Kyriakos Mitsotakis After the end of Summit At the press conference he gave he was asked about the issues of European Defense, the White Bible for it, and the escape clause.
The prime minister expressed hope that the escape clause will be activated as soon as possible and to relate to the year 2025. He noted that the Commission’s proposal is a four -year period, which characterized it reasonable, “as we need time and predictability to increase our defense spending”.
“In any case, I feel that this is an excuse to be the inclusion in the White Paper of a Full Position of the Greek Government that is now coming and is justified and awaiting the final and definitive text to know the degree of fiscal flexibility.”he added.
Mr Mitsotakis recalled that in early April he will present the main axes of T House.Not a new ten -year plan for equipment.
He expressed hope that the debate will have other characteristics from discussions of recent months, “because we can disagree with many, but I want to believe that at least in the issues of defense spending we can find an elementary common context of understanding as the country’s deterrent potential is a prerequisite for freedom.”
For Mr. Triantopoulos’s proposal
Asked about the opposition’s reactions to Mr Triantopoulos’ proposal to go directly to the Judicial Council and this is a precedent for other politicians who may be confronted with prosecutors, the prime minister replied as follows: “I have already been able to ask me from a statement. I have been a 21 -year -old MP and since 2006 I have spoken for the first time then about the need to revise Article 86 so as not to give the impression as a political system that we have two measures and two weights when we face the possible criminal responsibilities of politicians. Since then there have been some steps in the right direction. With our own initiative, this government majority essentially abolished the deadline and now, Mr Triantopoulos, in my view in my view, is doing what we were all essentially asking for. And what is that? Finally be tried by his natural judge and I would say that in a way this choice is the choice and intention of the government majority paves the way for a more brave revision of Article 86 in the direction of which we were all talking about. I really wonder how it is possible for the opposition parties and especially PASOK, come today and say exactly the upside down by what they said a week ago. I do not think we are building relationships of trust between citizens and our political system. I as a politician who has always fought in this direction will lead the effort to change Article 86 as I have committed, and I think that citizens also prefer politicians to be tried by their natural judges, in this case by the Supreme Court we have, We have also seen many pre -trial and examinations and we know and have seen where they have come. “
The prime minister was then asked if the Supreme Council was scheduled with Turkey and a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as the latest developments in the neighboring country with the arrest of Mayor Constantinople and opposition leader.
He expressed “concern” about “developments in Turkey”: “Respect for political freedoms is an essential component of a democracy. Let me remind you that at least Turkey is at least integrated into the European Union and a country that aspires to have closer relations with the Union. Obviously this can only be done in the context of European Council decisions such as those we have negotiated in recent years. Now for the first part, no there is still no scheduled date for my visit to Ankara, “he said.
Migratory
Asked if the attitude of Europe and Greece harden and whether a decision was made on migration at the informal meeting of the leaders in which he participated in Brussels, Kyriakos Mitsotakis noted: “Greece was at the forefront of this change of European policy in immigration. I would like to remind you that by 2020 we have adopted a harsh but fair policy that proposes the external guard of the border. And then I would say that we were few who adopted this policy. It is now essentially a common place that we cannot have a coherent migration policy without effective guarding of external borders and without limiting the flows of those who enter the European Union illegally. And I am glad that the European Union seems to be directed to a second priority which is none other than effective returns. The truth is that today 8 out of 10 illegal immigrants in the EU, in Europe, that is, people who are not asylum not returning, remain on the European continent. And this is obviously something that has to change. The draft regulation as proposed by the European Commission is an important step in the right direction. Greece is involved in a closed group of countries I would say is at the forefront of discussions for more innovative ideas around migration. We are immediately awaiting the publication by the European Commission on the list of safe countries of origin, the safe third countries will follow and we must (…) be thought of beyond the ordinary to see how we will deal with this issue. The government’s policy on it is very clear. Anyone who is entitled to asylum in our country is welcome to remain in Greece. Anyone who is not entitled to asylum will do everything we can to return to the country from which his journey began. “
Greece-US Relations
He was also asked about the possibility of a meeting of Donald Trump with Recep Tayyip Erdogan and if he would affect his own meeting with the US President.
“I do not know that there is a scheduled appointment by President Erdogan with President Trump, nor is there any scheduled meeting with President Trump. I appreciate it will happen sometime, but I have nothing specific to tell you. In any case, I would like to emphasize, I have said many times, that Greek -American relations are stable, they are deep, they are based on common interests, they are not heterogeneously identified by the US relationship with Turkey. Greece is a factor, a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and a country that I believe in this volatile geopolitical environment, can also be very useful. As a reliable country in the Middle East, a member of the European Union, a member of NATO may be extremely useful in this new view of US foreign policy, ”he insisted.