Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, with talks mostly revolving around the agenda of issues to be discussed at an upcoming extraordinary EU Council meeting on Feb. 1.
Of particular interest is the comprehensive reform of the EU’s economic governance rules, with the central objective of proposals being to strengthen public debt sustainability and promote sustainable and inclusive growth in all member states through reforms and investment, something that Athens supports.
Additionally, both leaders discussed issues affecting the European People’s Party (EPP), the grouping of Europe’s center-right parties.
Taking to her official X account afterwards, von der Leyen wrote: A good chat with @kmitsotakis ahead of the Special European Council. Supporting Ukraine, building a stronger industrial base, managing migration, all of this requires a united European answer. And we are confident that we will get there.”
Earlier, Mitsotakis reiterated his concern over the escalation of the Mideast crisis, Foreign Policy editor-in-chief Ravi Agrawal.
Asked about the recent attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea, he said that “…now that we are trying to reduce inflation, every break in the supply chains can only complicate efforts by central banks.”
He underlined that Greece is in contact with all sides and has maintained a moderate stance vis-a-vis the crisis, supporting the right of Israel to self-defense and the avoidance of civilian fatalities in Gaza.
On Ukraine, he said his government has supported the country from the beginning on the diplomatic front and even militarily, while Europe is united behind Kiev.
Queried on relations with Turkey, he said a tenuous situation has given way to an effort to try and rebuild relations. “Even if Greece and Turkey do not resolve their difference on EEZ delimitation, they can still co-exist and build on a positive agenda, which includes, for example, providing Turkish tourists with short-term visas to visit Greek islands and collaborating on the migration issue.”
