Kyriakos Mitsotakis, arriving at the informal European Union Summit in Nicosia, stressed the importance of the fact that the meeting is taking place in Cyprus at this moment, at a time of intense geopolitical volatility. He stressed that the leaders had the opportunity to discuss the upgrading of European strategic autonomy, as well as defence solidarity within the Union.
He noted that many European countries, including Greece, supported Cyprus when it was attacked in the context of the conflict between the United States and Iran – a development that he said was the first tangible proof that Europe can defend its member states even without the direct involvement of third parties.
The Prime Minister reiterated his firm position on the need to effectively activate and upgrade Article 42(7) of the EU Treaty, the mutual assistance clause that obliges all member states to assist a member state under armed attack. “The fact that this issue is now firmly on the agenda of the European Council is particularly important,” he said, adding that Greece intends to use its EU presidency in the second half of 2027 to further advance this debate.
On the economic level, Mitsotakis noted that the Summit provides an opportunity for a substantive exchange of views on the new Multiannual Financial Framework, as well as on assessing the economic impact of the prolonged instability caused by the conflict in the Middle East. He underlined that the government supports Greek society “always within the limits of its fiscal possibilities”, noting that the economy is growing at a high rate, reducing debt and generating surpluses that allow for targeted interventions.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that Greek citizens are being tested by the accuracy and prolonged international uncertainty, but made it clear that the government will not promise things it cannot deliver and will not jeopardize the fiscal balance. “This stability is the basis on which we are building all our other policies,” he said.
