In a very rich agenda, I believe that increases in energy prices will be the topic that will dominate the discussion.
As you know, the Greek government has already taken important measures in order to limit to a minimum the rise in electricity, as well as natural gas, prices for Greek households.
We will continue to intervene in the energy market to support Greek households, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises for as long as this energy crisis lasts.
However, it is necessary to deal with this problem on a more structural level, with interventions that can be initiated, at the first stage, by the European Commission.
An indicative example would be the procurement of natural gas by the EU, as well as an increase in the storage capacity for natural gas, in order to limit the short-term market distortions when extra gas is required.
I will have the opportunity to brief my counterparts on the very important developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Eastern Mediterranean, under certain conditions, can become an alternative source of energy for the European Union.
Regardless of whether we are talking about natural gas -which may be transported in liquefied form from Egypt to Greece and thence to the European gas transmission grid- or electrical power that may be generated in Northern Africa under very favorable conditions -ideal conditions I would say- and transmitted via cable from Egypt to Europe through Greece.
Therefore, the significance of the Eastern Mediterranean also lies precisely in this dimension, which is linked to the energy security of the European Union. We will have the opportunity to discuss these issues extensively today.
Tomorrow we will extensively talk about migration and I will express my views in the morning.
Thank you very much.
