The Prime Minister met with European Council President Antonio Costa
The prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis In his first conversations in the statements after his meeting with the President of the European Council Antonio Costa He expressed the EU’s support for the Polish partners who defended the Union’s eastern border against an open breach of their airspace.
“As members of a strong Europe who does not indulge in revisionism, we must also prove in the field that No violation of sovereignty and sovereign rights can be tolerated. For the Ukrainian we express our support for the EU and the US consultation to end the war and the launch of peace talks. A debate with Ukraine’s participation and based on fundamental forecasts of international law, border inviolable and the necessary security guarantees, “the prime minister said.
Mr Mitsotakis noted that they discussed with the President of the European Council and the developments in the wider region in the Middle East.
“We support the negotiating efforts for a truce. They are paid by America, Qatar and Egypt. We are anxious after the unacceptable violation of Qatar’s territorial sovereignty and I underlined it to the Emir of the State. I emphasized that any escalation in Gaza should be avoided. Greece has long been offering significant humanitarian aid and through throwing humanitarian material“, The prime minister underlined.
He also said that they discussed both the common defense and perspective Greece supports in believing in the concept of Union’s strategic autonomy.
“On the occasion of recent events in Poland’s airspace, I restore the need for a common European financial tool for defense markets of common European interest such as anti -missile protection. I find this debate to be mature and we will have it in the next European Council discussions. For the participation of third countries in the new EU defense initiative, our position is clear. In European Defense Architecture, there can be no countries threatening with EU countries. “Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized.
The prime minister said they also talked about the immigration, a matter that – he said – has consequences for the society, the economy and the security of the whole of Europe.
“After a period of rest, we had significant arrivals in the last 48 hours in Crete. This reaffirms the need for more coordinated protection of EU external borders to deal with traffickers more effectively, “he added.
Concerning the next multi -year budget, Mr Mitsotakis said that Greece was coming with planning and clear goals as well as a positive disposition to the Commission’s proposals. He noted that it would be a difficult discussion and welcomed this willingness to be completed no later than the end of 2026.
For the competitiveness of the EU, the prime minister stressed that Greece emphasizes the creation of a real joint energy market which would mean similar energy prices for all Member States. In this regard, he said that we have a lot of work to do, that we must invest in the necessary interconnections and the energy to leak from cheaper countries to those who need it.
“We wish the obstacles to be temporary and the bonds we forge permanent. Our commitment is strong for a powerful Europe that will serve all Europeans and Europeans.
Responding to a question about the competitiveness and the Draghi report, Mr Mitsotakis said that European leaders were mostly positive about Draghi’s bold proposals to bridge the vacuum of competitiveness, especially with the US.
“Then some had expressed reservations about the opportunity to translate the recommendations into practical policies. We haven’t taken enough steps in this direction. I am sure that their chairman of the European Council also shares this feeling, “he said.
And he added: “We welcome the European Commission’s initiative to simplify and limit bureaucracy. But we have delays. In common energy policy, some steps have been taken, but we have not yet come up with how to oversee the single European energy market, nor how to finance the necessary interconnections. On the issues of the banking union, we have been discussing them for 10 years. There has not yet been real progress. Greece, in practice, proves that it is not afraid of investment of foreign banks in Greek. I can’t say the same about all European countries. “
Mr Mitsotakis also referred to a public debate on artificial intelligence with the participation of new start -ups which, he said, are demanding that the legal status be changed so that they can provide services throughout the EU. “We do not take advantage of the power of our common market, we have said,” “There is a gap between our ambitions and the financial tools we provide. It is clear in my mind that we need a distinct financial tool in the defense that will fund common goods related to the security of us all. The great challenge and difficulty we have is to convince our colleagues that they also need bold movements and jumps. Mario Draghi described them in his study and will be negative for Europe if this study ends in a drawer, “he said.
Costa: All European borders must be protected by the European Union
European Council President Antonio Costa began his statements by thanking the Greek Prime Minister for the reception, and said that this visit to the EU is very important because the institutions of the Union “must come closer to the citizens, and leaders and peoples are important”.
Mr Costa placed particular emphasis on the need for unity of Europe and said that “we need you all to build unity because unity is our power.”
He congratulated Greece “for what he has done in the last 10 years” and described as “impressive” how you managed to recover. “Now you have priorities in competitiveness and security. But nothing can be done without any elements of macroeconomic policy. You have succeeded and are very important for the eurozone. We are now focusing on security and competitiveness. You have to confidence to investors to strengthen the economy because it is very important to know what we can invest in security, but this cannot be done without a strong economy, “he said.
Mr. Costa pointed out that “When we talk about security, the first that comes to mind is the eastern border and the threat of Russia. But we cannot forget that we have other borders that need to be protected from Cyprus to Finland and from Portugal to Romania. The management of our borders must be improved to tackle illegal immigration and traffickers, and we must have a stronger European immigration policy. “
He expressed his agreement with Mr Mitsotakis that “common European defense is needed” joint funding “he referred to the € 150 billion funding program, but he said” more must be done together “. “Military expense has to increase significantly,” he said, stressing that it should be ensured that there is good joint funding from a joint fund, and therefore a stronger economy is needed. “
He pointed out that the size of defensive European businesses should be increased and the defense industry should be improved, while stressing that “Greece is in a very important geostrategic positionit is the European and the Middle East Bridge, and what is happening in the Middle East are causing difficulty in Europe in stability and migratory flows, and we need to deal with the region. “
Answering a relevant question on joint lending, Mr Costa said that “four years ago no one was talking about common defense in Europe” and after Russia’s attack “We support Ukraine politically and militarily. It is very important what happened. There is the program of 150 billion euros in loans to Member States for defense. We need more together. In the next multiannual budgetary framework it is an opportunity to decide what and how it needs to be funded. If the defense is common there must be common funding, ”he concluded.