Ukraine, Economy and Immigration on the agenda of the extraordinary European Council – What will the Prime Minister say

Supporting Ukraine and its European perspective ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (24.2.2022), strengthening the competitiveness of European industry as it moves towards climate neutrality and while European businesses face inflationary – energy crisis, but also the challenge of the Immigration are the main topics on the agenda of the extraordinary meeting of the European Council in Brussels, as reported by government sources.

On the Economy front, the same sources remind that the relevant discussion started from the previous meeting of the European Council and concerned the European response to the American Inflation Reduction Act. At this European Council, the discussion is expected to focus on the proposals submitted by the European Commission to strengthen European industry as it moves towards climate neutrality, as government sources emphasize.

The focus is largely on the relaxation of state aid rules, which, however, favors the larger countries, which also have larger budgets, in order to support their businesses, something Kyriakos Mitsotakis has pointed out in time. According to government sources, the prime minister is expected to stress that this is not enough and that it could create even greater disparities between member states.

He will point out, according to the same sources, that greater flexibility is required in the utilization of European financial tools, as was done during the pandemic, a position with which other countries are also drawn, such as, for example Italy.

Finally, Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to underline the need for Europe to move more ambitiously to support its businesses in the green transition and to put money on the table, as he had done with RepowerEU.

In the Migration field, Greece’s permanent position is to support the frontline countries, which are facing the pressure of migration flows at their borders. In the case of Greece, the challenge is daily both at the land and sea borders, EU borders. The prime minister will reiterate the need for EU funding for aerial surveillance of sea borders and artificial barriers to close the channels of illegal immigration and smugglers. The prime minister is also expected to stress the need for a holistic approach to the issue that will strike a balance between solidarity and responsibility. This requires cooperation on the issue of immediate returns to countries whose nationals are not eligible for international protection, according to government sources.

Against the backdrop of the deadly earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as he has already underlined, will emphasize the need for coordination and response to the humanitarian disaster caused by the earthquakes.

Greece, he is expected to note, reacted immediately and was the first country to send aid to Turkey, while he is expected to emphasize the need for coordination, as help will also be needed for the long-term consequences of the earthquake.

Referring to the case of Syria, he will state that the situation is more complicated and that international coordination is required to deal with the humanitarian disaster, but European tools must also be found.

Finally, Greece is ready to send humanitarian or other aid to Syria through the European Civil Protection Mechanism and in cooperation and coordination with European partners, as government sources emphasize.

RES-EMP

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