Developments in Ukraine, European defense, the Middle East situation, competitiveness, housing and migration will be discussed in a “difficult” EU Summit today in Brussels, with considerable disagreements among the 27 EU member state leaders.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been in the Belgian capital since Wednesday, where he participated in the informal dinner of European leaders with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. The dinner was held on the occasion of the first EU-Egypt Summit (at European institutional level), and the discussion, according to sources, focused on the latest international and regional developments, emphasizing the Middle East and the Gaza ceasefire, as well as security in the Red Sea.
Today the “27” will discuss how the EU can support ongoing efforts to achieve just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, as well as Gaza’s reconstruction, in which Greece has already expressed its desire to participate through construction and technical companies.
Mitsotakis message for “360-degree” defense
Kyriakos Mitsotakis will participate in the morning European People’s Party Summit and immediately after in the European Council Summit proceedings. On defense and security, the next steps toward implementing the EU Defense Readiness Roadmap 2030, presented last week, are expected to be discussed. Mr. Mitsotakis is expected to emphasize the importance of the “360-degree” approach, so that every new European defense capability protects all member states – not only those on the EU’s eastern borders, but also those on the Union’s external borders facing threats from the South.
“Europe is evolving from an economic and political pillar into a geopolitical pillar. This means greater synergies. It means greater investments in European defense and primarily a different vision for Europe’s strategic autonomy,” Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis characteristically stated from London, after participating in the Berlin Process Western Balkans Summit.
What Kyriakos Mitsotakis will say at the Summit
European competitiveness and the dual transition (green and digital) are expected to form a key part of the “27” discussion. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, according to sources, will reiterate that building a common European energy market and greater market integration through interconnections and networks is essential, so that energy prices are not higher in southeastern Europe.
Regarding the discussion on green transition and decarbonization, he is expected to emphasize that realism is required to find the golden mean between the ambitious goals set and social cohesion and competitiveness. Kyriakos Mitsotakis analyzed this issue in his Financial Times article, where he noted that greater flexibility will be needed to achieve the EU’s targets.
On Ukraine, leaders will discuss financial support for the coming years, including possibilities based on frozen Russian assets. To date, the EU and its member states have allocated €177.5 billion to support Ukraine, of which €63.2 billion for military support.
