Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Dear Prime Minister, dear Luís, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Athens today. And allow me, before I continue, to express my sincere condolences to the Portuguese people for the tragic loss of Portuguese citizens and Venezuelans of Portuguese descent in the devastating earthquakes that claimed the lives of thousands of people.
Greece and Portugal may be located at opposite ends of Europe – on the Mediterranean and the Atlantic – but our countries have far more in common than what sets them apart.
We are two maritime nations, with a broad maritime presence, a large diaspora, and a tradition of openness to the world. We are, however, two states that are also linked by something even deeper: securing our democratic path following the painful dual experience of dictatorship through our accession to what was then the European Economic Community.
It was a strategic choice made by both of our countries, which succeeded in consolidating our political system, the rule of law, and stability.
This accession, coupled with Spain’s simultaneous entry, strengthened the Mediterranean dimension of the European project and established Southern Europe as a distinct pole with a significant role in shaping common European policies.
And our bilateral relations, as we had the opportunity to see today, are truly exceptional, and there is still significant room to further strengthen both our economic and trade ties.
As well as opportunities to strengthen our defense cooperation and synergies in the defense industry, where Portugal has made significant progress.
This was also confirmed by the recent visit of the Greek Minister of National Defense to Lisbon and Beja, and these are areas in which we have agreed to work together, as the geopolitical reality compels us to build a stronger defense foundation.
As was made clear, after all, at the most recent NATO Summit, Europe must assume a much greater share of responsibility for its collective security, which means more investment, more joint defense production, and greater operational readiness.
And of course, as we had the opportunity to discuss at the European Council, the implementation, in practice, of the mutual assistance clause set forth in Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union.
Luís and I also had the opportunity to discuss civil protection issues. For years now, our two countries have been on the front lines of the climate crisis, which is now affecting all of Europe, not just Southern Europe.
Portugal was hit hard by major wildfires and extreme weather events last year and, to some extent, this year as well – the heavy toll of which, unfortunately, we Greeks know all too well.
Today, dear Luís, is the first very difficult day, with our preparedness for potential wildfires at its highest level, and I would like, once again, to express my gratitude to everyone on the ground: our firefighters, the men and women of the Armed Forces, our volunteers, and local government officials, who every summer wage this very difficult battle against wildfires.
That is why we believe that European solidarity is so important in the field of civil protection. And the truth is that no country, no matter how well prepared it may be, can face a challenge of this magnitude on its own.
We therefore need to work together to develop more capabilities for prevention, surveillance, and rapid response. I am a strong believer in the European mechanism “rescEU”. Last year, we found ourselves supporting Portugal during some very severe wildfires. Tomorrow, we may be the ones who need and ask for your help.
And the fact that we are able to move forward – for example, by placing joint orders for new firefighting aircraft – is proof of how European solidarity can work in practice in the field of civil protection.
We also discussed migration, where we agree that the protection of external borders must be combined with the fight against the criminal activities of smuggling networks, with an effective return policy, as well as legal pathways that meet the actual needs of the member states.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Portugal for its long-standing contribution to European missions to protect our shared borders, as well as for your support of Greece over the years.
We have managed to significantly reduce the flows, and this is largely thanks to the consistent presence of Frontex, which you yourselves have also staffed.
Moreover, we also discussed the critical issues on the European agenda. After all, we have very important decisions and very difficult negotiations ahead of us. And, of course, our country is preparing to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in less than a year, to be precise.
Of course, the crucial negotiations on the new Multiannual Financial Framework took center stage in our discussion.
There is no doubt that Europe today is facing a new reality. It is called upon, at the same time, to strengthen its defense, accelerate the green and digital transitions, protect its external borders, and, of course, maintain and defend its competitiveness.
All of these challenges require adequate funding. And we cannot move forward with a budget that was designed to meet the needs of the past.
We need a bold approach, one that matches our ambitions, with tools suited to investing in European public goods: defense, energy security, and critical infrastructure.
Our position is simple: Europe cannot do more with less. If we want therefore, to meet the new demands, we must secure the necessary resources, while at the same time maintaining strong – and I believe our position on this is shared and non-negotiable – pillars of Cohesion and the Common Agricultural Policy. At the same time, the discussion on new resources must now move forward with courage and boldness.
I would like to add something here: this debate often focuses exclusively on the net contributions of certain Member States. However, this debate overlooks the fact that these economies – Europe’s strong economies – are the ones that have benefited most from the single market. It is therefore only fair that this be reflected in decisions regarding the common European budget.
We also discussed, of course, developments in the Middle East, the southeastern Mediterranean, and Ukraine. I think we are both very concerned about the recent escalation and the return to a climate of hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz region, which, unfortunately, appears to be having a negative impact on oil prices and may inevitably lead to new inflationary pressures on our economies.
We are maritime nations. For us, freedom of navigation and maritime security are strategic priorities. We will say it again: the imposition of any transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable. Greece remains actively engaged and defends these principles through Operation “Aspides” in the Red Sea.
To conclude, dear Luís, I would like to congratulate Portugal on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2027–2028. It is with great pleasure that we offer you whatever experience we have gained from our own tenure. As you know, we are a member of the Security Council for the 2025–2026 term. And I am certain that we will continue this cooperation to strengthen international legitimacy as well as multilateralism.
Let me conclude by welcoming you to Athens once again and thanking you for our excellent cooperation. I would like to say that Luís and I truly share the same views on so many issues, and we’ve also developed a very good personal friendship, which I think reflects the excellent relations between our two peoples.
After delivering their statements, the two leaders took questions from members of the press. The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ responses follow:
Georgia Skitzi (ERT): As we heard, both of you mentioned the role of Southern Europe. Do you believe that Southern European countries today have greater influence on European policy-making than they did in the past?
At the same time, in what areas could Greece and Portugal form a united front in the negotiations on the issue that concerns all countries – which, as you said, is none other than the Multiannual Financial Framework?
And, Mr. Prime Minister, you said that Europe “cannot do more with less.” But if the net contributor countries ultimately reject the budget increase, Mr. Mitsotakis, is our country, Greece, prepared to support joint European borrowing along the lines of the Recovery Fund, as you have said, to finance both defense and new, as well as any other European priorities? Thank you.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: First of all, there is no better indication of how closely aligned the positions of Greece and Portugal – and specifically our two governments – are than the great honor Luís has bestowed upon me twice by asking me to represent his country at the European Council when, due to circumstances beyond our control, natural disasters, he was unable to participate in meetings of the highest European intergovernmental body.
Indeed, our two countries are two countries of the South; they are two countries that have proven they could overcome a difficult crisis with confidence, two countries that are currently leading the way in Europe both in terms of fiscal discipline and growth rates. Two countries that can now participate in these European discussions free from the “stigmas” of the past and without being victims of preconceptions about how the European North might view the European South.
Especially regarding the issues that Luís also raised, we essentially share the same priority: we want more resources for addressing the climate crisis. Not only to tackle the problem – that is, how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – but also to adapt to a climate crisis that is already upon us.
Civil protection issues – which, according to the European Commission’s proposal, will receive significantly more funding in the next European budget – are at the forefront of our priorities.
Issues, let’s say, related to water management and how that affects the overall competitiveness of our primary sector. We are completely aligned on these issues. How the tourism sector – we are both, I would say, “tourism superpowers” and I’m delighted that we have so many Greeks traveling to Portugal and so many Portuguese traveling to Greece – will be able to adapt to an environment that is constantly changing.
And, of course, the major challenges posed by the new Multiannual Financial Framework. No one is going to be completely satisfied with the outcome of these negotiations. Everyone will have to make some concessions. That’s what happened in 2020, and I expect it will happen now as well.
However, there are certain “red lines,” such as Cohesion and the Common Agricultural Policy, which are now being addressed in a more unified manner. We agree on this – and with Luís – that this is the right framework.
But it is certain that our countries link our participation in the European family to the Common Agricultural Policy and to Cohesion policies. And Portugal has made excellent use of these resources to move closer to European convergence.
I completely agree with Luís that it would be a big mistake to repay the Recovery Fund loans now, for two reasons: First, because we need to free up resources that we lack in the next budget. And second, because there is a great need – if we want to strengthen the euro – to have more European bonds that we can make available to international investors.
And that is yet another reason why Greece would be in favor of a new instrument of joint borrowing, which, however, should be focused solely on defense. Otherwise, there is a significant risk of opening Pandora’s box regarding what European joint borrowing – which also faces a number of legal obstacles – could end up financing.
But defense is the ultimate common, public European good. For example, we are collaborating with Portugal on the acquisition of new transport aircraft, a project in which Portugal brings significant added value. Tomorrow, Greece could do the same.
Portugal is interested in purchasing frigates, just as we were. If we do not achieve greater uniformity in our procurement and do not boost our defense industry, we will have missed a tremendous opportunity.
That is why resources are needed – more resources than European budgets can provide.
We, dear Luís, are already spending 3.5% of our GDP on defense. We are compelled to do so, not only because we want to fulfill our obligations to NATO and the European Union, but also because of our unique geopolitical circumstances.
However, if all European countries want to reach that goal, and if we want to reach 5% in the future, the pressure on our budgets will be immense.
That is why I am calling for a European funding mechanism for specific defense initiatives that will benefit all European countries. If, for example, Europe has more transport aircraft, we will all benefit.
We will all benefit when Europe acquires more firefighting aircraft. Greece and Portugal will be among the first countries to receive the new Canadair model, the 515, which is currently being manufactured in Canada. These will be national aircraft, but they will be available to meet European needs.
I believe the same should be done with similar initiatives, which could be funded by common European defense resources.
Pedro Zampujo (RTP): Good afternoon to both Prime Ministers. I have a question for both of you. The Portuguese Prime Minister referred to the efforts made by the people of Portugal and Greece during the crisis. I would like to ask both Prime Ministers whether they feel that the scars of that period have been overcome, or whether there is still ground to be covered in order to overcome the difficulties that the Greek and Portuguese people experienced?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: I would like to thank you for your question, which indeed gives me the opportunity to make a very brief comparison of how Greece and Portugal overcame the major economic and social crisis that struck both of our countries 15–16 years ago.
Portugal needed one bailout agreement, one program, to emerge from the crisis. Greece needed three, and its society suffered for nearly a decade.
The main difference between the two countries is this: In Portugal, the main political forces were able to reach an immediate agreement on the difficult reforms they needed to implement and did not succumb to the temptation to undermine them, recognizing their necessity.
Unfortunately, that did not happen in my country, dear Luís. And that is why we needed three (bailout) programs instead of one, and why Greece has lagged significantly behind Portugal in terms of convergence with Europe over the past decade.
Fortunately, over the past seven years we have proven that we can leave these difficult times behind us. And I think that if there is one thing that unites us right now, Greece and Portugal, it is that we are advocates of fiscal stability and opposed to any voice that promises benefits without substance – benefits that cannot be paid for by a budget that has specific limits.
Both countries have demonstrated that we can grow at rates far higher than the European average, reduce unemployment, and create new jobs, comply with European fiscal rules, generate primary surpluses, and reduce our debt as a percentage of GDP.
And, at the same time, we need to have the capacity to support society in the face of external challenges, such as those we are facing now.
That is why both countries are models of success in Europe today. And this is something that gives us – as I said earlier – greater bargaining power when we go to Europe to discuss issues of broader European interest.
These countries were called the “PIGS” 16–17 years ago, but today they are leading players in Europe, and I think that’s something that makes us all – especially our citizens – proud, despite the difficulties.
Luís and I had the opportunity earlier to discuss how our two governments are addressing the major challenges posed by high prices and inflation, which, unfortunately, are being exacerbated by current events in the Gulf.
Don’t you think we’d both like to do more to support our citizens, to make their lives a little easier, a little less difficult? But we’ll only do so to the extent that we don’t violate European rules.
Because if we were to return to times we want to leave behind us once and for all, the consequences for what we have achieved with such great effort would be dramatic. I am certain that neither Luís nor I will allow that to happen.
It would be all too easy for us to be in a cheerful mood today and hand out money. I say this because Greece is once again facing a prolonged pre-election period leading up to the spring 2027 elections, and unfortunately we see forces that have learned nothing from Greece’s history – in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2015.
It’s very easy when you’re in opposition to promise everything to everyone. They probably do it, of course, with confidence, from a position of safety, because even they themselves may know they won’t win the election. It’s risk-free; it costs them nothing.
However, right now we must stay the course. I’m glad that Portugal is following Greece’s lead. I know it’s not easy right now. Citizens are facing difficulties; we acknowledge them, we understand them, and we always try to do our best.
But we know – and I’ll conclude with this – that only the policy we are pursuing is the one that ultimately guarantees better days and better years for both Portuguese and Greek citizens.
