PM Mitsotakis: We want a strong Greece in Europe and a strong Europe for Greece

"Returning from Brussels, where we discussed with my European counterparts ways to enhance our collective defence, I was informed with satisfaction of the statements of the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: the President of the Commission stated that she is ready to explore ways of budgetary flexibility, so that defence spending can be increased within the framework of the new Stability Pact of the Union", Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his post on Tuesday on the developments regarding the strengthening of European defence.

"I was among the first that supported this direction, long before this came to the forefront. It should be recollected that I have analysed it at all the European Summits and I did the same in my article to the Financial Times before the informal summit on Monday, where I again supported that the time of a common European defence has come," he noted.\

He also pointed out that "With President Tusk, in fact, we have signed a special letter, as early as May 2024, requesting the funding of our continent's single anti-aircraft shield. It appears that from now on the road to strengthening European defence is opening, with more and more powers recognising its necessity. In an uncertain and unstable world, Europe is called upon to claim its place in terms of security and progress.

"For this to happen, a wider fiscal space is necessary, which will allow member states to spend on their protection without questioning of their financial prospects. We want a strong Greece in Europe and a strong Europe for Greece. The time has come to act", Mitsotakis concluded in his post.