Today’s Special European Council is taking place for one reason only: because at the last European Council, in December, one country, namely Hungary, did not allow us to achieve the necessary unanimity in order to agree on the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework and the provision of substantial financial support to Ukraine, which is suffering.
I am optimistic that in this European Council we, 27 countries, will be able to finally reach an agreement that will provide a solution to this very important problem that we are facing.
It is very important to be able to release the additional resources of the Multiannual Financial Framework in order to support those countries that are experiencing a refugee crisis, but, at the same time, to secure the necessary funding for Ukraine, which is fighting an existential struggle for its freedom.
In any case, we are determined, one way or another, to find a solution today.
I also want to focus briefly on the issue of the farmers’ mobilisations which, as you have realised, are testing many European countries, including Brussels.
From the very first moment, Greece was in favour of the proposal presented by the European Commission in order to put a pause to the set-aside land scheme, at European level.
If we move in this direction, additional land can be released for cultivation so that our farmers can have additional income both from the sale of products and from coupled payments.
From there on, I will repeat what I said yesterday: the Greek state, within its fiscal possibilities, is always close to the primary sector, as it has done for the last 4.5 years. We will continue to do so now so that, as far as possible, we can address the fair demands of our agricultural and livestock farmers.
