The president of the Eurogroup, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, emphasized that international uncertainty now dominates due to developments in Greenland. Facing geopolitical developments requires EU unity, he specifically noted, speaking to ERT, one day after the first Eurogroup meeting he chaired.
The Finance Minister mentioned that uncertainty is generally something we need to be concerned about, although defense investments are something we need anyway, reminding of the SAFE instrument and the escape clause.
However, he said “we must do other things too,” referring to joint procurement, while also recalling the developmental aspect of defense investments.
Pierrakakis’ Eurogroup presidency: praise and positive tone in EU and Greece
Kyriakos Pierrakakis’ debut as Eurogroup president was accompanied, during a period of heightened geopolitical challenges, by positive comments at European level as well as in Athens. The head of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Pierre Gramegna, speaking at the press conference after the Brussels meeting, congratulated the new Eurogroup president on his first appointment at headquarters, noting that he “presided with mastery,” with “productive and constructive discussion” and that he “set a very positive tone” for his tenure.
The positive image was also conveyed to Greece today, as during today’s presentation of the government’s review and plan for 2026, Pierrakakis’ first Eurogroup presidency was mentioned as a milestone event included in the achievements cited by the government. The message being sent outward is that the country can now be at the forefront of European decisions, overcoming agenda obstacles, even when it is demanding.
More specifically, speaking about the “40 top achievements during 2025,” Akis Skertsos included Pierrakakis’ election to the Eurogroup, showing how highly the government values this particular event as a success.
First impressions from the Eurogroup presidency
Hours after Trump’s threats of tariffs on European countries opposing Greenland’s annexation to the US, Kyriakos Pierrakakis spoke to EU Finance Ministers about unity and dialogue, setting priorities such as the Investment Union, Single Market completion, strengthening fiscal foundations, and the digital euro. He also referred to the need for concrete and measurable results within a short timeframe.
Additionally, despite the fact that US relations were not officially on the agenda, on the sidelines of the Eurogroup the Greek Finance Minister sent a clear message that “territorial integrity and sovereignty constitute fundamental principles of international law, critical for Europe and the international community as a whole.” He warned of a downward spiral from tariff imposition that would endanger transatlantic relations, sending a message of unity for Europe.
