In discussions about the Cyprusdevelopments in defense spending issues in the EU With the White Bible filed yesterday but also at migratory reported the Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his statement on arrival at the EU Summit.
The prime minister emphasized his satisfaction with the fact that both in the issues of reinforcing EU defense and In the issues of migrationincluding permanent Greek positions that are justified.
Especially for the migration he said that “I have given a clear directive to his new leadership Ministry of Immigration and Asylum Moving on to the logic that anyone who comes to the country illegally and has not received asylum should be returned to the country from which he came and is important to have European tools for it. “
As far as European issues are concerned defenseMr. Mitsotakis welcomed the White Bible deposition that “includes fixed Greek positions that will become EU policies. I refer to the possibility of giving flexibility to the Member States to increase investment in defense and the creation of a common European funding of 150 billion funding for the European funding of the European funding and the European funding. in countries involved in the EU or have agreements with the Union. “
He also expressed his satisfaction that “the proposed return regulation is drawn up with the permanent Greek positions that prioritize not only the guarding of the external borders but also to the rapid process of returning asylum. That is why we look forward to the new list of secure countries of origin so that our country can move more rapidly. “
On the occasion of the presence today at the work of the UN Secretary General, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he was pleased with satisfaction for the 5 -day conference in Geneva for the Cyprus where “Cyprus and Greece we fought and succeeded in keeping the debate on the reunification of the island in the context of UN Security Council decisions”.
He also described “extremely positive that the UN Secretary -General has appointed a special envoy to have a new deliver in view of the new process for the Cyprus issue in the summer”
The full text of the Prime Minister’s statements follows:
The summit, which starts in a short time, has a series of extremely critical issues on our European Union on its agenda.
Let me start by welcoming the fact that today at noon the Secretary General of the United Nations will be attended by this afternoon and on this occasion to express my satisfaction with the results of the Five -Member Geneva Conference.
Cyprus and Greece have fought and succeeded in keeping the process of reuniting the island alive as part of the decisions of the United Nations Organization, its Security Council.
And I find it extremely positive that the Secretary -General has chosen to appoint a personal envoy so that this process will be kept alive, continues with a specific deliverable in view of the next meeting, which will take place in the summer.
I would also like to focus particularly on the issues related to European defense. To welcome the deposition of the European Commission of the White Bible, which includes fixed Greek positions, which will now become policies of the European Union.
I am referring, in particular, to the possibility of giving fiscal flexibility to the Member States, so that they can increase their investment in defense, as well as the creation of a common European fund of 150 billion euros for defense funding, which will promote European strategy and European strategy or European strategy or Strategic partnership agreements with the Union.
It is another important step for European strategic autonomy and a fixed position of Greece that is now justified.
Finally, we will also have the opportunity to discuss the issues of immigration, where again I want to express my satisfaction with the fact that the proposed return regulation is drawn up with fixed Greek positions, which prioritize not only the external guarding of the European Union, but also to the European Union, but also to the European Union. come from.
Hence we look forward to the new list of safe countries of origin so that our country can move faster in this direction.
And the clear directive I have given to the new leadership of the Ministry of Immigration is precisely on the logic that anyone who enters our country illegally and has not received asylum, that is, is not in international protection, should be returned to the country from which he came. And it is very important to have European regulatory tools, which will make it easier for us to implement this policy.
*Journalist:* Mr Prime Minister, what do you think of the White Paper?
*Kyriakos Mitsotakis:* I am satisfied with the content of the White Bible. I have long supported the need to give more fiscal flexibility to the Member States to spend more on defense and I see that this is included in the White Paper. We hope that it will soon be approved by our finance ministers.
I am also glad for the initial scope of the Safe Fund. However, at some point we must discuss more seriously whether these funding options will only include loans, as is the case today, or if we are also willing to move in a more ambitious direction, in providing grants to European Member States, in order to make the significant investments they need to make to ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure.
*Journalist:* (Question outside the microphone)
*Kyriakos Mitsotakis:* I believe it is a very important step in the right direction. First of all, I am glad that the Member States will now have greater fiscal flexibility within the limits of the Stability Pact, to spend more on defense. We have supported this position and expect its finalization very soon. We have a four -year horizon to increase our defense spending. This is very important because we have very strict fiscal rules and we need more fiscal flexibility to invest in defense. Therefore, this is very positive.
Now, as far as the Safe fund is concerned, I have always been in favor of the principle of “buying European”, but I also have to point out that we may have to be more ambitious. This should not just be a loan issue, as it is today. I believe that we should also seriously discuss the possibility of a common lending mechanism that will also provide grants to the Member States in order to make decisions on defense investment in the logic of the Safe Fund, as proposed by the European Commission. I would urge us to be even more ambitious, though I think it’s an excellent first step.
*Journalist:* So how do you try to convince your colleagues?
*Kyriakos Mitsotakis:* We’ll see it.