The Prime Minister’s press conference in Brussels
The prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis In the press conference he gave after the completion of the European Council’s work in Brussels and a question about Libya’s immigration and attitude he said:
“We had the opportunity with my Italian counterpart to inform our colleagues about the significant increase in flows and this new road, which seems to open between East Libya and Crete. And, of course, it is also positive that the European Commission has recognized the danger of consolidating this situation and seems to be willing to take action. He will visit Libya in early July, I think shortly after the visit of the Greek Foreign Minister, the Commissioner for Migration, along with his counterparts from Greece, Italy and Malta.
He will go to both East and Western Libya to convey the message that this practice cannot continue and make sure he is passing by his power to ensure that I would say the Libyan authorities to consult a much better surveillance of Libya’s maritime borders.
At the same time, as you know, Greece has moved independently, having sent some ships outside the Libyan territorial waters in order to have a better picture of what is happening in the field and whenever boats or boats are detected to attempt to at least come into a communication with the Libyan principles so that they are return back to Libya.
So we will use all the measures we have at our disposal, I would say as Greece and as Europe. And carrot and whip, to say so a little more popular, to ensure that this new street will not be consolidated.
And of course, to say one last one. An important part of them, which use this street, are Egyptian citizens. They should be returned immediately to Egypt and this must be a common European policy and I think the message will be transferred to Egypt and to accept its citizens, who eventually end up in Europe without being entitled to asylum, as Egypt is considered a safe country. “
Regarding the strengthening of European defense, defense spending and the possibility of a European funding tool, the prime minister noted: “I hope that yes, it is the answer to your question. It is a good thing that countries that have previously joined the category of Pidists, such as Denmark and Finland, recognize the need for more defense spending and agree with the view that these costs may have to be funded by a European tool.
Beyond that, to go back in a while, Greece was one of the first countries to insist on relaxing fiscal rules, so that additional defense costs could not be taken into account in the rules of excessive deficit. It’s something we’ve achieved. Hence our country has already activated the national escape clause. Safe is a financial tool.
We look at how much it may be useful in our country. I recall that Safe is a tool that encourages common supplies between European countries and I think it is something that we may be able to use. We look forward to the final proposals of the Ministry of National Defense. And to say one last thing about financial tools, because I have seen a lot of discussion in Greece about which third countries may or may not have access to these tools.
If you see the European Council conclusions, as published in the morning, as we received them and as it is now, you will find that there has been a change in the conclusions. One by one. And this change is very important to Greece, because it clearly says, if I am not mistaken, in paragraph 21, that cooperation with third countries is understood that they are unanimous, but also a very important parameter, which we added, that these countries share the goals of the European Union and the European Union Policy.
It is yet another registration, I would say, in our institutional arsenal now at the European Council’s decisions that countries that want to participate in these financial tools cannot have, for example, a very low compliance with the European Union’s common foreign policy and security policy. “
Asked by RES-EIA, what results may have the reference that Greece wanted in the conclusions in the Turkish Memorandum, as Libya and Turkey want to do research in the region and what we can expect the next day in the Greek-Vijouki relations, in view of the Foreign Minister:
“First of all, Lord Armeni, it is positive that, at the request of Greece, the old word was repeated, which characterizes the Turkolibyy Memorandum.
Important that this is done at this juncture, to clearly send a message to Libya, that we do not accept, not as Greece, as Europe, no such thing. But I have to tell you, Mr. Armeni, because I hear in Greece again a criticism, I would say, quite epidermal and non -existent, that when a country exerts its literal rights in the field, as Greece did, not in theory, in the field, essentially announcing plots, and giving it a lot of existence.
But without still seeing in great detail what was announced, at first glance it seems that the plots announced respect the midline. And I think this is a positive development.
And one last one. In the past our country had an opportunity to make such a delimitation. He didn’t. Let some of them remember this, who had duties, had these responsibilities in the past. On the contrary, we are the ones who delineated an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf with Egypt and Italy and who exercise our sovereign rights in the field. “
On the Middle East, Mr Mitsotakis said: “First of all we believe in diplomacy and now call on all parties involved to negotiate the future of Iran’s nuclear program, in a logic that will ensure that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. This is what I think is something that unites all my colleagues and not only. But the solution again, we emphasize it, it must be diplomatic and not military. Greece once again reinstated the issue of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. It is included in the conclusions, one I would say an urgent request to finally end this Israeli operation in Gaza in order not to be paid by civilians, in combination, in combination, to emphasize this, with the liberation of the hostages, who are still alive.
And I think now is the time to put the maximum pressure on Israel, to make such a move. “
The prime minister was also asked about the OPECEPE case and responded as follows: “I do not often comment on internal current issues. I was all day without phones at the summit. I have not been fully informed of the content of the case file. I will do it very soon and when I make my decisions you will find out. “