Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that Europe must not repeat the migration crisis of 2015, warning that conflicts in the Middle East could have serious implications for security, energy, and migration.
Speaking ahead of a European Council summit in Brussels, Mitsotakis said the current geopolitical tensions highlight the need to effectively activate the European Union’s mutual assistance clause, Article 42.7.
He noted that Greece was among the first countries to support Cyprus following a recent attack and said more European states were expected to follow, according to remarks reported by Greek media.
Mitsotakis said he would raise at the summit how the clause’s current informal application could be turned into a more structured institutional mechanism that EU countries could use in the event of an attack.
Addressing the economic and energy impact of the crisis, he warned that attacks on oil infrastructure in the Gulf could lead to a sharp rise in energy prices, with significant consequences for the global economy.
Europe must be ready to protect consumers, particularly the most vulnerable, as well as businesses, he said, adding that Greece would take national measures within its fiscal capacity to support households and the economy.
However, he stressed that a coordinated European response would be needed if the crisis leads to a prolonged increase in fuel and energy prices.
Mitsotakis also said the current situation must not trigger a new refugee crisis, stressing that Europe should clearly demonstrate its ability to protect its external borders and avoid past mistakes.