"The European Council had as its most important result the unanimous decision to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova and with a perspective to Georgia and Bosnia. It sends the message that Ukraine's place is in Europe as long as it implements the preconditions. It is an important message from Europe without distorting the complexity of the accession process", Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, starting his statement at the press conference following the European Council meeting in Brussels.
"I reiterated the country's long-standing position that the Western Balkans have a place in Europe, but also that these countries should move faster in this direction," the Prime Minister continued, while on Greek-Turkish relations he stressed: "I reiterate that we are fully covered by the conclusions adopted unanimously expressing concern about Turkey's provocations. They also call on Turkey to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all Member States and to de-escalate the tension it is fostering in the Eastern Mediterranean in order to promote peace and stability in the wider region.
On the economy, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that "the Commission is required by the end of the summer to complete the proposals for the decoupling of the price of natural gas from electricity", but added meaningfully that "In the meantime, the government will of course continue to support households and businesses to the extent of our fiscal possibilities".
I have exhausted the issue of early elections The government is going about its business as usual, no minister has put down their pencils
"I have exhausted the issue of early elections, I have nothing to add," the prime minister replied during a press conference in Brussels, when asked whether the election talk all this time has led government ministers to "put down their pencils".
"The government is going about its business as usual, no minister has put down their pencils. I understand that it is very difficult to convince you that there will be no elections and reshuffle since you keep asking me these questions," the Prime Minister added in his reply.
If Greece is challenged by Turkey at the NATO summit, it will respond in the strongest possible way and appropriate answers will be given
"I prefer to see the glass half full. The messages from the European Council are clear. There are two ways forward for Turkey: One is that of de-escalation and productive dialogue and the other is that of escalation, which is bound to lead Turkey to further alienation from the European family and keeps open the possibility of taking further measures against Turkey," Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in response to a question on Turkey's stance at a press conference after the European Union Summit in Brussels.
"Turkey must stop its extreme aggressive rhetoric of questioning Greek sovereignty, anyway Greece has responded in a well-documented manner and to every challenge. We will always invite Turkey to a dialogue in good faith, but we are ready to defend our sovereignty with determination. We are not going to play the game of rhetorical tension, which is aimed at domestic audiences," the prime minister added on the same issue.
Asked if he is open to a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Madrid during the NATO summit and what he would do if Turkey raises the issue of the demilitarization of the Greek islands, the prime minister replied that "I am not the one who has cut communication channels with Mr. Erdogan. I continue to believe that we should meet and discuss. As for the NATO summit, the agenda is different and you can be sure that if Athens is challenged, it will respond in the strongest possible way and appropriate responses will be given."
We continue to support our proposal for a cap on the wholesale price of natural gas and insist on its decoupling from electricity
"The government will continue to make targeted interventions against energy prices," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in response to a question during a press conference in Brussels, adding that "horizontal measures do not seem to be working, as noted by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde. We continue to support our proposal for a cap on the wholesale price of natural gas, and we insist on the decoupling of the price of gas from electricity."
Concluding his response, Kyriakos Mitsotakis noted: "I want to be clear: recently there has been a de-escalation in the price of oil and this must reach the pump. And we are in a position to make controls that will ensure this."
Source: APE
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