Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday welcomed the inclusion of Greek proposals on common European defence in the conclusions of the European Council, saying they strengthened efforts to ensure joint protection of EU territory and advance projects such as a European anti-missile shield.
Speaking on arrival at the European Council meeting in Brussels, Mitsotakis said he was pleased that “the defence vision of Europe, which has a 360-degree approach,” was reflected in the Council’s conclusions — a position that Greece has long supported.
He added that Greek proposals, including the creation of a common anti-missile shield for the European Union, were gaining traction and had been incorporated into the European Commission’s roadmap.
Turning to competitiveness, Mitsotakis said the EU could not be competitive without affordable energy for all member states. “There are still large differences in energy prices between many European countries,” he said, noting that the European Commission had now committed to concrete measures to reduce costs across the bloc.
On housing, the Greek premier highlighted domestic efforts to ease the burden on renters, including a government plan to rebate a full month’s rent to tenants at the end of November. He urged the EU to consider using the next European budget to help citizens struggling with housing costs.
“This issue also has a European dimension,” Mitsotakis said. “Young Europeans must feel that acquiring their own home is not a pipe dream.”