As European Union leaders convene at the European Council summit in Brussels, Greece is set to advocate for measures aimed at mitigating the impact of surging energy costs. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to call for targeted and temporary support for households and businesses, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. The rising energy prices are attributed to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have heightened economic pressures across Europe.
Mitsotakis will emphasize the necessity of maintaining fiscal stability while advocating for improved cross-border energy connections and the completion of the EU’s internal energy market. Greece views the current energy crisis as a significant challenge to Europe’s competitiveness, highlighting the need to bolster energy security without compromising long-term climate commitments.
Beyond energy, the summit will see Greece opposing any further cuts to funding for regional development and agriculture in the EU’s next long-term budget. Athens argues that increased priorities such as defense, security, and innovation necessitate additional resources, and is open to exploring new EU revenue sources, provided they do not disproportionately burden less-developed economies.
In terms of EU enlargement, Mitsotakis is anticipated to support a merit-based approach, resisting attempts to tie membership negotiations to changes in the bloc’s decision-making procedures. Migration will also be a key topic, with Greece pushing for stronger protection of the EU’s external borders and a unified European mechanism to address sudden increases in migration.