Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to push for measures to alleviate rising energy costs at the European Council summit in Brussels, taking place Thursday and Friday. As EU leaders gather to address economic pressures, energy security, and the war in Ukraine, Mitsotakis aims to highlight critical issues impacting Greece and the broader European community.
At the summit, Mitsotakis plans to advocate for targeted and temporary support for households and businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in response to energy price surges linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. He will emphasize the need to maintain fiscal stability, enhance cross-border energy connections, and complete the EU’s internal energy market. Greece views the current energy crisis as a reflection of Europe’s competitiveness challenges, stressing the importance of bolstering energy security while honoring long-term climate commitments.
Addressing the EU’s upcoming long-term budget, Greece is poised to oppose further cuts to regional development and agriculture funding. The Greek government argues that increased priorities, such as defense, security, and innovation, necessitate additional resources. While open to new sources of EU revenue, Greece insists these should not disproportionately impact less-developed economies.
Mitsotakis is also expected to support an approach to EU enlargement based on merit, resisting attempts to link membership negotiations to changes in the bloc’s decision-making processes. Migration is another key topic, with Greece advocating for stronger protection of the EU’s external borders and the establishment of a common European mechanism to handle sudden spikes in migration.