By Gifts Antoniou

The crucial issue of European defense will be put on the table at the informal session of the European Council being held today in Copenhagen. The prime minister goes to the Danish capital, where Ukraine’s strengthening and funding will also be discussed

The first exchange of European leaders’ views on the security and strengthening of the Union’s joint defense abilities is significant, in view of the presentation of the 2030 road map for the defense expected at the Regular European Council in late October (23 and 24 October), where it will be discussed in detail.

As part of the debate is expected to be monopolized by the exploitation of existing programs to support EU Eastern Wing Member States, especially at this juncture, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to emphasize that he is expected to emphasize that The strengthening of the EU’s eastern border cannot be at the expense of southern border, which also receive threats.

THE Kyriakos Mitsotakis will underline that the EU border do not stop in the Baltic countries and that Any plan to enhance collective defense abilities must also cover the south. The issue of threats at the EU southern border It had also set a previous European Council in March, stressing the need for a comprehensive security strategy for Europe, as threats are not confined to the eastern border, but extend to the Mediterranean and the Middle East. With this presentation, other leaders of the South were drawn up.

As for defense programs of common European interest, the Kyriakos Mitsotakis He is expected to remind his proposal in May 2024, together with the Poland Prime Minister Donald Tusk to create of a European air defense shield with European fundingwhich is included in the proposals to be presented by the European Commission in Copenhagen.

Will follow the Council of European Political Community (EPC), which begins tonight, with the dinner quoted in honor of the leaders the royal couple of Denmark. The work of the seventh EPC session will begin on Thursday morning. On her agenda will be found Ukraine strengthening, permanent and new security threats for Europe and durability, immigration, economic security and reduction in dependencies.

The prime minister will intervene on a round table for the immigration, where the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament and the Prime Ministers of Italy, Portugal, Malta, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Andorra will also participate.

In the context of the European political community the French President Emmanuel Macron and the prime minister of Italy Georgia They call on leaders to participate in an informal meeting for the inauguration of European coalition against drugsthe establishment of which had been nominated at the previous meeting of the EPC. Due to the cross -border nature of drug trafficking, the goal is to make the platform for concerted initiatives.