The “alarm bell” for the need for faster and more decisive European action and the search for alternative solutions regarding Middle East developments and their consequences was sounded by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, just hours before the European Council meeting in Cyprus. The prime minister participated on Wednesday in a discussion with European Council President António Costa, within the framework of the Delphi Economic Forum, where he called for “everyone to be realistic and have a plan B in case the crisis extends, as no state will be able to support the economy without European support” in a clear message to Brussels and the leaders of the 27 member states.
Mitsotakis’ message on the energy crisis
“We are possibly facing a crisis of significant dimensions. It is a matter of time, if the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues, for us to have significant disruptions in oil supply and products, we will have significant increases in energy prices, fertilizer shortages, increased inflation and reduced growth,” noted the prime minister, who stressed that “Greece is doing better than other European countries, but we will not remain unaffected by a crisis of such magnitude.”
Mitsotakis travels to Nicosia today – Issues on the agenda of the informal EU Summit
Mr. Mitsotakis travels today to Nicosia to participate in the informal European Union Summit, which has two main issues on the agenda: The geopolitical environment and Europe’s response, and the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the period 2028-2034.
The prime minister is expected to once again emphasize that the defense support provided by Greece – and subsequently other member states – to the Republic of Cyprus was a demonstration of European solidarity in practice, without even activating Article 42.7 (TEU), which creates a precedent. At the same time, he will emphasize in the most emphatic way the geopolitical significance of the Eastern Mediterranean. Regarding the Middle East, Greece’s consistent position since the start of the war is that the EU’s goal must be to achieve a diplomatic solution with Iran that addresses all aspects – primarily that of Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic program. “Greece is a country that desperately wants international waters to remain open. Any other scenario is catastrophic. So we must all do our utmost at the diplomatic level to have a solution soon,” the prime minister emphasized from Delphi.
Before traveling to Cyprus, Mr. Mitsotakis will meet at 9:30 am with the Prime Minister of Latvia, Evika Silina. At 11:00 he will have a meeting with the European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification, Valdis Dombrovskis, and at 12:30 with the Commissioner for EU Enlargement, Marta Kos, also at the Maximos Mansion.
Macron comes to Athens – The message of strength
The “fan” of Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ international contacts opens even wider on Friday and Saturday, with Emmanuel Macron’s two-day visit to Athens. The French president is expected to land on Friday afternoon, so that immediately after he will attend an event at the Roman Agora in the presence of the Greek prime minister. Immediately after, he will go to the Presidential Palace, where he will be received by the President of the Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas, who will subsequently host an official dinner for his French counterpart. On Saturday at 10:00 am, Mr. Mitsotakis and Macron will visit the frigate “Kimon” at pier 12 of Piraeus port, and at 11:30 the meeting of the two leaders will follow at the Maximos Mansion, agreement signings and statements to the media. At 16:00, Mr. Mitsotakis and Macron will go to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, where they will address the Greek-French business forum, organized by the Association of Enterprises and Industries in cooperation with the Greek-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while they will also visit the National Library for the exhibition “Seeking the East. Intersecting paths of archaeologists”.
