“Times are full of challenges and the situation is getting worse because there is not a single challenge that is limited to one country or in an area,” the Foreign Minister said George Gerapetritis In a debate held today at the Economist conference with the former German Foreign Minister and a new president of the United Nations General Assembly Analena Berbok.
“Aggression is not a regional issue. It affects the whole world what is happening in Syria and Ukraine. The same is true of food safety, climate, artificial intelligence. Everything provokes a domino of developments, “he said.
He pointed out that “this is the time for the EU to stand up and say we are here to discuss”, while stressing that it is important for the international security architecture to have Euro -Atlantic relations.
He said that all NATO members, except Spain, voted 3.5% for defense spending and that “this is the problem with democracies, we must score our needs. I believe that sometimes we are very narcissus. We feel we are very good and we have unlimited resources to do it all. “
Mr Gerapetritis noted that we need a strong social state in the EU, as this is the basic narrative of European culture, but we must do a calibration, which does not mean that we will be far from this principle.
He said that politicians must be open and honest towards society and that what we need to fight here in Greece and elsewhere is the battle with misinformation.
“The West must remain united, because this is the essence of our culture. But these must be done in equal terms and a way that we are open to society. “
“We are in the 3rd phase in Geopolitical Europe, which has completely changed the scene. After World War II we were in economic Europe, then in politics and then in the geopolitical, “he said. “Being a geopolitical power means you have a view of the phenomena. Our main paper is that we are a geopolitical force that can be mobilized »
As he pointed out, in Europe “we agree on the authorities, the problem is that we disagree with the tools we need to use to achieve the end result.”
He pointed out that he is anxious with the new violent phase, but there are some positive results: “We have stronger Europe, stronger facilities and above all, now we have a way of thinking of not complete dependence. When this war began, Europe was 50% based on Russian gas, it is now based on 10%. These developments can help us become stronger and make the difference worldwide. “
“I believe in the European vision that in Europe we have a huge capital of culture, history, accession to principles,” he said. “I believe in the West. If we stay together we will be very strong and I believe that the European vision is always very attractive and we should not be afraid of the future. We need to have a vision, invest in the future. “
A. Berbock: If all Europe works together in the context of NATO and with the Western Balkans there are many possibilities
“What happened in Syria and the Middle East has a negative impact on Europe. We can’t expect what someone else will do, “said Analena Berbock for her part.
Asked about China and relations with the EU, he noted that Germany had been delayed with regard to China strategy. Reduction of risk was the most important. “With China we have to be smart to understand what’s going on and there is currently the background for a new geopolitical configuration. Now is a good opportunity for those who believe in the strategy of being unraveled by the danger of uniting forces. “
“Being completely optimistic means that it is naive. We know where it is operating and where not Europe, “he said, adding that the EU is capable of making the changes they need and proved on the weekend after an invasion of Ukraine.
“We had the biggest package of sanctions that was very clear and we said we had to make a change of 180 degree policy,” he noted. “At some point as a politician you have to wonder what to defend. If all of Europe works together within NATO and with the Western Balkans there are many possibilities, ”he concluded.