Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appeared on CNN on Monday evening (Athens time) to field questions mostly related to the latest European developments, where he noted that the continent’s leaders needed a wakeup call long before the US election.

Among others, he said that the high-profile Draghi report reveals crucial issues over Europe’s strategic autonomy, such as, for instance, if Europeans are ready to spend more on defense, not only separately but collectively.

He also cited the challenge of “green transition” and issues dealing with Europe’s competitiveness in a global market. Some decisions, he said, in echoing Athens’ position, should include common borrowing by the bloc.

In pointing to a lack of coordinated action, he cited surging energy prices and a weakness to develop a “technological ecosystem” on the continent. At the same time, he said the change of guard at the White House can serve as a signal to deal with problems that European leaders chose to ignore.

At the same time, he was asked about the opening of the new Thessaloniki metro line, which despite years of delays and cost overruns up to six times its original budget forecast, has received rave reviews by international media – mainly over its cutting-edge technology and the display of numerous antiquities revealed during excavations.