Mitsotakis: Europe must consider its own strategic interests

In the discussion on European security and defence and specifically regarding the EU’s cooperation with third countries, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday particularly highlighted third countries that are not aligned with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Mitsotakis stressed that European must consider its own strategic interests and not adopt a “business-as-usual” approach to such partnerships, or see them as simply business transactions.
With respect to financing defence spending, the Greek premier said that activating the national “escape clause” will be useful, while adding that it was not enough on its own and calling for a European financing mechanism for promoting programmes of common interest.
He also spoke about Greece’s 12-year plan and underlined that Europe must support the European system of defence-sector start-ups.