The European People’s Party (EPP) is the only political force capable of ensuring stability and economic growth in Europe, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, addressing the EPP plenary session in Valencia.
“The only force that can offer political stability and economic growth in Europe is the political family of the EPP,” Mitsotakis said, speaking in his capacity as leader of Greece’s ruling New Democracy party.
He said boosting the competitiveness of the EU economy must remain a top priority and called for a shift from overregulation to pro-growth reforms. “In the past we have made concessions and now we risk falling behind,” Mitsotakis said. “The EU must transform itself from a ‘factory’ of regulatory rules into a ‘factory’ of growth.”
He welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s initiatives to streamline the bloc’s regulatory framework and pointed to Greece’s recent performance as an example of the benefits of reform. “Greece is now one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe. We recorded a €4.8 billion surplus thanks to reforms like the crackdown on tax evasion. These are delivering real results and prosperity,” he said.
Mitsotakis emphasised that economic reforms must be pursued at the national level. “We have to face the populists within our borders. These battles will not be fought by Brussels for us,” he said, urging swift adoption of recommendations outlined in the Draghi report on competitiveness.
Citing a recent power blackout in Spain and Portugal, Mitsotakis called for a more unified European energy market to bolster both competitiveness and energy security. He also warned that “peace should no longer be taken for granted in Europe” and called for stronger defence and deterrence capabilities.
He backed the Commission’s use of the escape clause to create additional fiscal space and advocated for a more integrated European defence market. He also cautioned EU member states to be prudent when signing defence agreements with third countries to ensure EU interests are not compromised.
Turning to foreign policy, Mitsotakis urged deeper engagement with emerging powers. He cited von der Leyen’s planned visit to New Delhi with EU officials as a sign of growing cooperation and said Greece could serve as a key player in the EU-India relationship.
“The ties between the EU and the US are too strong to fail — they are the foundation of our peace and prosperity,” he said. “But we must strengthen our autonomy as a union in order to approach this relationship from a position of confidence.”
At the national level, Mitsotakis said New Democracy remained “the pillar of political stability and the driver of economic growth in Greece,” and stressed that success brings responsibility both within Greece and across the EU.
