It is now clear that Europe must allocate more European resources to common European defencethe prime minister said Kyriakos Mitsotakis attending the Summit in Brussels, recalling that Greece has been a protagonist in shaping a more active EU defense policy.

He noted that these issues will also be discussed at an extraordinary summit in February.

Mr. Mitsotakis added that “what was first formulated by Greece some months ago and seemed perhaps like a very distant dream, is now beginning to be treated with a sense of urgency by many European countries”. He also said that he will present the Greek positions on the matter to the other leaders.

The prime minister added that he will inform his counterparts about the visit to Lebanon and will express his concern for the need to protect the religious communities and especially the Greek Orthodox of Syria and Lebanon.

He added on Syria that the territorial integrity of the country must be ensured with an inclusive government that will safeguard the rights of religious minorities and the EU must have a united view.

In detail, the statement of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is as follows:

“The last Summit of the European Union in 2024 is primarily about Europe’s position in the world in view of the latest very important geopolitical developments. From the election of Donald Trump in the United States, to the ongoing war in Ukraine and from the crisis in the Middle East and the developments in Syria, to the EU’s relations with the global South, I think it is common ground in the European Council that the need for supporting the economic and geopolitical dynamics of our continent, whether we are talking about improving its competitiveness following the recommendations of the Draghi report, or whether we are talking about strengthening its defense capability, to be able to prevent any threats that may appear against the European Union. Greece has been a protagonist in shaping a more active defense policy of the European Union. We will have the opportunity to discuss these issues at an extraordinary Summit in February. It is absolutely clear to me that Europe must allocate more European resources to its common European defence.

What was first formulated by Greece a few months ago and seemed perhaps like a very distant dream, is now beginning to be treated with a sense of urgency by many European countries and I will have the opportunity today once again to present the Greek positions around this issue.

Obviously we will also discuss developments in the Middle East. I will inform my counterparts about the visit I made to Lebanon and mainly about the concern that exists both in Lebanon and Syria for the need to protect the various religious minorities. And I refer especially to the Greek Orthodox of Lebanon, but primarily of Syria, who fall under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Antioch.

The most important thing for Syria right now is to ensure the country’s territorial integrity and for the new government to be first and foremost an inclusive government that will support and safeguard the rights of religious minorities. And obviously in this discussion Europe must come with a single point of view and Greece will have a decisive role in shaping the European approach to the issues concerning Syria”.