Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during his attendance at the summit of 27 European leaders, stressed: “The summit that starts shortly has a series of extremely critical issues for our European Union. Let me start by welcoming the fact that today at noon the Secretary General of the United Nations will be attended by this afternoon and on this occasion I would like to express my satisfaction with the results of the Five -Member Geneva Conference. Cyprus and Greece have fought and succeeded in keeping the process of discussing the island alive as part of the decisions of the United Nations. “

“We fought and succeeded in keeping the process of discussing Cyprus alive as part of the decisions of the United Nations Security Council. I find it extremely positive that the UN Secretary -General has chosen to appoint a personal envoy so that this process will be kept alive, continues, with a specific deliverable in view of the next meeting that will take place in the summer, “the prime minister said.

Continuing, Mr. Mitsotakis particularly stood on the issues concerning the European defense. In particular, he greeted her Deposit by the European Commission of the White Bible“Which includes permanent Greek positions, which will now become European Union policies. I am particularly referring to the possibility of giving fiscal flexibility to the Member States so that they can increase their investment in defense, as well as the creation of a common European fund of 150 billion euros for defense investment funding, which will promote European strategic autonomy or in terms of European strategic autonomy or in the European Union. Corporate relationship with the Union. It is another important step for European strategic autonomy and a fixed position of Greece, which is now justified. “

He also noted that ‘we will have the opportunity to discuss Migration issueswhere again I would like to express my satisfaction with the fact that the proposed return regulation is drawn up with the permanent Greek positions, which prioritize not only the external storage of the European Union borders, but also to the rapid process of returning to those who have not received asylum in the European Union.

The prime minister also noted that “we are eagerly awaiting the new list of safe countries of origin, so that our country can move faster in this direction and the clear directive I have given to the new leadership of the Ministry of Immigration, from which he came. And it is very important to have European regulatory tools, which will make it easier for us to implement this policy. “

The entire Mitsotakis statement upon his arrival at the European Council

The summit, which starts in a short time, has a series of extremely critical issues on our European Union on its agenda.

Let me start by welcoming the fact that today at noon the Secretary General of the United Nations will be attended by this afternoon and on this occasion to express my satisfaction with the results of the Five -Member Geneva Conference.

Cyprus and Greece have fought and succeeded in keeping the process of reuniting the island alive as part of the decisions of the United Nations Organization, its Security Council.

And I find it extremely positive that the Secretary -General has chosen to appoint a personal envoy so that this process will be kept alive, continues with a specific deliverable in view of the next meeting, which will take place in the summer.

I would also like to focus particularly on the issues related to European defense. To welcome the deposition of the European Commission of the White Bible, which includes fixed Greek positions, which will now become policies of the European Union.

I am referring, in particular, to the possibility of giving fiscal flexibility to the Member States, so that they can increase their investment in defense, as well as the creation of a common European fund of 150 billion euros for defense funding, which will promote European strategy and European strategy or European strategy or Strategic partnership agreements with the Union.

It is another important step for European strategic autonomy and a fixed position of Greece that is now justified.

Finally, we will also have the opportunity to discuss the issues of immigration, where again I want to express my satisfaction with the fact that the proposed return regulation is drawn up with fixed Greek positions, which prioritize not only the external guarding of the European Union, but also to the European Union, but also to the European Union. come from.

Hence we look forward to the new list of safe countries of origin so that our country can move faster in this direction.

And the clear directive I have given to the new leadership of the Ministry of Immigration is precisely on the logic that anyone who enters our country illegally and has not received asylum, that is, is not in international protection, should be returned to the country from which he came. And it is very important to have European regulatory tools, which will make it easier for us to implement this policy.

Journalist: Mr. Prime Minister, what is your opinion on the White Paper?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: I am satisfied with the content of the White Bible. I have long supported the need to give more fiscal flexibility to the Member States to spend more on defense and I see that this is included in the White Paper. We hope that it will soon be approved by our finance ministers.

I am also glad for the initial scope of the Safe Fund. However, at some point we must discuss more seriously whether these funding options will only include loans, as is the case today, or if we are also willing to move in a more ambitious direction, in providing grants to European Member States, in order to make the significant investments they need to make to ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure that we will ensure.

Journalist: (Question outside the microphone)

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: I think it’s a very important step in the right direction. First of all, I am glad that the Member States will now have greater fiscal flexibility within the limits of the Stability Pact, to spend more on defense. We have supported this position and expect its finalization very soon. We have a four -year horizon to increase our defense spending. This is very important because we have very strict fiscal rules and we need more fiscal flexibility to invest in defense. Therefore, this is very positive.

Now, as far as the Safe fund is concerned, I have always been in favor of the principle of “buying European”, but I also have to point out that we may have to be more ambitious. This should not just be a loan issue, as it is today. I believe that we should also seriously discuss the possibility of a common lending mechanism that will also provide grants to the Member States in order to make decisions on defense investment in the logic of the Safe Fund, as proposed by the European Commission. I would urge us to be even more ambitious, though I think it’s an excellent first step.

Journalist: So how do you try to convince your colleagues?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: We’ll see it. Thank you

The program of the session

Arrivals on the Red carpet of the European Council began at 10.30am. Greece and at 12 noon the exchange of opinions of EU leaders will begin, and there will be a teleconference with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski.

At 13.30 Greece, European Council President Antonio Costa and UN Secretary -General Antonio Guterres will enter a joint entry into the forum, will follow a working lunch and exchange of views with leaders.

Then, at about 16.30 hours of Greece, the Summit for the Euro Summit and the European Council’s workshop as well as the European Council’s work dinner will be held. Upon completion of the summit, a press conference will be given.

Although the Summit is scheduled to take two days, 20 and 21 March, sources from officials close to the European Council president did not rule out the possibility of work being completed late on the night of March 20 and no second day of work.