Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to stress the urgent need for bold EU defence measures to strengthen the defense capabilities of member states at the extraordinary European Council Summit, taking place in Brussels on Thursday March 6. The meeting will focus on bolstering collective European defense and the resolving of the Ukraine crisis.
Government sources emphasize that the EU’s newly announced REARM Europe initiative, introduced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, represents a crucial step toward enhancing Europe’s collective security.
They also point to Mitsotakis’ recent Financial Times op-ed, where he advocated for a significant boost in European defense spending, including the creation of a 100 billion euros EU defense fund to finance military investments.
Greece’s position is that all EU member states should benefit equally from the activation of the escape clause for defense spending, regardless of whether they meet NATO’s target of allocating 2% of GDP to defense. This principle of equal treatment, according to Athens, is key to ensuring fair burden-sharing across the bloc.
In a related move, Mitsotakis will submit a declaration, for approval, to the European People’s Party (EPP) Summit, held just hours before the European Council meeting, stressing the urgent need to enhance EU defense funding as a cornerstone of European strategic autonomy.
A United European Voice on Ukraine
On the issue of Ukraine, Mitsotakis is expected to emphasize that Europe must speak with a single, unified voice, particularly regarding prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Furthermore, he will stress the importance of continued dialogue with the United States to bridge differences and work toward a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, with U.S. support for European security guarantees playing a vital role.
Finally, Mitsotakis will reportedly underline the necessity of supporting Ukraine both politically and militarily, ensuring it has the defensive capabilities needed for credible deterrence. A strong Ukraine, he will argue, is crucial for safeguarding its sovereignty and, by extension, European stability.
