“The European Council, which is about to begin, is taking place at an extremely critical geopolitical juncture, with a widespread war affecting the Middle East region. The implications, obviously, for the global economy are extremely serious,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said as he arrived at the European Council meeting in Brussels.

“Let me make three observations. The first has to do with the fact that this crisis has highlighted the need for the real activation of the European Union’s mutual assistance clause. I refer to Article 42, paragraph 7,” the Greek Prime Minister said, adding.

“Greece, the first European country, rushed to support Cyprus when it was attacked, followed by many other European countries. But I will openly raise this issue in the European Council and ask for a clear roadmap on how we can turn this essentially informal triggering of Article 42.7 into an institutionally solid option that European countries will have in case they are attacked again.”

The second observation, he said, “has to do with the economic and energy implications of this major crisis. The attack on the Gulf oil facilities has the potential to drive energy prices to levels that could lead to dramatic effects on the global economy. It is absolutely essential at this time that reason prevails and that attacks on energy infrastructure in the region by both sides are stopped.

From now on, however, as Europe we must be ready to face this crisis, with the protection of European consumers, especially our weaker fellow citizens, and European businesses as our first concern, so that their competitiveness is not further damaged. The response at this level must be both national and European.”

He stressed that “Greece, within its fiscal capacity, will do everything in its power to support Greek citizens and the Greek economy. But we will also need European responses in case this crisis is prolonged and leads to prolonged price increases in both gas and fuel, and this will be the subject of the discussion we will have today.”

The Prime Minister’s third remark has to do with the fact that “this crisis must under no circumstances lead Europe to face a new refugee crisis. Here the message must be absolutely clear: Europe cannot tolerate a repeat of the 2015 crisis again. We are not at that point, but we must be prepared for all eventualities.”

“A clear message, therefore, that Europe will protect its external borders and will not repeat the mistakes of the past, I think it is imperative that this European Council sends a clear message,” Mr Mitsotakis concluded.