Mr. Chancellor, dear Christian, it is a great pleasure for me to be here today in beautiful Salzburg. Thank you very much for your kind invitation, and it is a special pleasure for me to be in a city so closely associated with European culture, which hosts a festival that serves as a benchmark. It is a global artistic event with international reach, but also a constant reminder that the European project is founded on shared, timeless values as well as on our common cultural heritage.
So thank you very much for the invitation, for the warm hospitality, and, of course, for the particularly productive discussion we’ve had over these past two days, which has reaffirmed that relations between our two countries remain exceptional.
We also reaffirmed our mutual willingness to continue on the same path, maintaining and strengthening the very close cooperation of recent years.
It is something that, as you said, is best reflected in tourism. Greece consistently ranks very high on Austrians’ list of preferred vacation destinations, and Austria, in turn, ranks very high on Greeks’ list of preferred vacation destinations. And it is no coincidence that the two ministers responsible for tourism are here with us today. This is just one indication that we should make the most of the opportunities in this important sector in both directions.
We have a lot to learn from Austria, especially when it comes to education, but also regarding issues related to the management of mountain tourism, which is a top priority for our country.
In fact, just yesterday, Mount Olympus was unanimously designated by the relevant committee as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site. This is just one indication of the great importance our government attaches to the development of mountain tourism.
Of course, our cooperation is not limited to tourism alone. The Chancellor made a very substantive reference to energy issues. Our continent faces major challenges regarding rising energy costs. Our response cannot be inaction, which is why we are jointly and emphatically placing this issue high on the energy agenda.
We cannot talk about a truly competitive Europe when our businesses and households are paying high prices for energy – and certainly higher prices than our main competitors.
And we cannot accept – and this applies to both Austria and Greece – the fact that, in a theoretically unified market, a European energy market, there are significant disparities in the prices paid by consumers in different Member States. We have important work to do in this area, both regarding interconnections and in terms of a comprehensive review of how we price electricity.
It is unfair, in a way, that countries like Austria and Greece – which have invested heavily in renewable energy – end up bearing the burden without seeing, to the extent we would like, the price reductions that renewable energy sources offer us reflected in the final bills of households and businesses.
Greece has taken significant steps to transform itself from a natural gas importer into a country at the center of corridors that supply natural gas to the whole of Southeast Europe.
This is a very important initiative that our country has undertaken. I believe that recent developments have shown that energy security is also geopolitical security.
And of course, the same applies to some extent to defense as well. Europe must assume a greater share of responsibility for its own defense obligations: to invest more in its collective capabilities, to strengthen its European defense, and, at the same time, ensure its operational readiness and not hesitate to invoke the mutual assistance clause, should the need arise, as provided for in Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).
Solidarity cannot remain merely theoretical. It must serve as a substantive guarantee for every member state, and this is particularly important for Austria, as it is a country that is not a member of NATO.
We also discussed co-production opportunities within the framework of the SAFE program, and I believe that the recent visit by the Greek Minister of Defense to Austria has opened a door; I am personally confident that we can walk through it by leveraging the strong innovation ecosystem that both of our countries now possess.
We discussed the migration issue at length. And here, Mr. Chancellor, I must thank you for Austria’s continued support of Greece’s positions.
Together, we succeeded in ensuring that the protection of the European Union’s external borders was recognized as a shared European responsibility and that this major shift in European Union policy was enshrined in the new Pact on Migration and Asylum.
And I would like to thank Austria once again. I remember the difficult days of March 2020 in Evros. The Austrian forces were among the first to support us back then, helping us protect Greece’s borders and demonstrating in practice to the European Union’s leadership that Greece’s border with Turkey is also Europe’s border with Turkey.
We have, therefore, made significant progress. However, we can do more and do better. And here I would like to acknowledge the important work that Austria has done in this area. Citizens may not always realize it, but the numbers show that the Chancellor’s government has made very significant progress in this area.
Just as we have made significant progress in substantially reducing the number of illegal immigrants – and potential refugees – entering Greek territory.
However, we need – and we have reached an agreement – a more effective return system. We need better cooperation with third countries; we need legal migration channels that meet the needs of our economies.
It is time to take bold steps forward, and together with Austria, we are prepared to discuss innovative solutions, especially regarding the return of those who are not entitled to asylum in the European Union.
And those who are not eligible for asylum in the European Union know before they set out on their journey that they are not eligible for asylum in the European Union, and we must send them a clear message that if they manage to reach Europe, they will be returned to their countries of origin. And this must not be a national message; it must be a European message.
We also discussed the issues of competitiveness and the new Multiannual Financial Framework. There may be some differing perspectives, but I believe that we all recognize – both Austria and Greece – that the budget must respond to the new geopolitical and economic challenges, by providing substantial support for competitiveness and through a climate policy that sets ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions without, at the same time, undermining European competitiveness.
I agree with what the Chancellor said, namely that the European Commission’s proposal to reform the regulation governing the Emissions Trading System (ETS) is a step in the right direction.
We cannot, at this moment, ask our industry, our European industry, to do much more than its technology currently allows, in pursuit of a climate neutrality goal that we want to achieve, but for which we may need a little more time to finally get there. And I think that on this issue, our positions are in complete alignment.
We discussed enlargement. Greece and Austria are the countries with the closest ties to the Western Balkan countries. Twenty-three years after the Thessaloniki Agenda, Greece remains a staunch advocate of the Western Balkans’ European perspective.
However, as the Chancellor also pointed out, this process is not uniform across all Member States. It must be accompanied by clear obligations: the rule of law, respect for human rights, compliance with existing international agreements and treaties, and the protection of minority rights. These are non-negotiable requirements for every candidate country, and there can be no exceptions of any kind.
Finally, we also exchanged views on the latest developments in the Middle East and Ukraine.
With regard to the new crisis in the Gulf, we both hope that any further escalation can be avoided, as the ongoing tension in the region has a direct impact on the global economy – we see this every day in fuel prices.
And of course, for Greece – which is quintessentially a maritime nation – ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is of paramount importance. There can be no fees or tariffs that would undermine this principle, and it is Greece’s long-standing policy to be present and to defend the right to free navigation.
We are, dear Chancellor, unfortunately, only one of two European countries currently deployed in the Red Sea as part of Operation “Aspides,” which has precisely this mission: to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. It is also important, however, for Europe as a whole to be present there and to have a say in developments.
To conclude, I would like to congratulate Austria on its election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2027–2028 term. We had expressed our support for your country from the outset, just as you had supported us when we sought election to our current term on the Security Council.
We are two countries that uphold international legitimacy and the rules of international law, and if there is any way we can share our experiences from our participation in the Security Council, we will do so with great pleasure.
Therefore, I would like to conclude by thanking you once again for your wonderful hospitality, and on behalf of my wife as well. We also had the opportunity to see – as you yourself mentioned – how an event of global cultural significance, such as the Salzburg Festival, not only gives us the joy of participating in and attending performances of truly global stature, but also has a very significant economic impact on the city of Salzburg and on Austria as a whole.
For us, culture is a hidden superpower that drives our country’s development. We see this, moreover, in the intense global interest sparked by the film “The Odyssey”, which is being discussed all over the world today and is reviving interest in Greece, Homer, and Greek mythology.
So, I, too, will be happy to welcome you in Greece, dear Christian, to return this wonderful hospitality. And we will continue to move forward on the path of exceptionally close cooperation between our two countries.
Journalist: Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Greece has long argued that the front-line countries cannot shoulder the burden of migration alone, while Austria also says that destination countries are under increasing pressure. What concrete compromise do you both believe must be made at European level to finally make the new Migration Pact work?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: First of all, let me point out that we have a Pact on Migration and Asylum. This in itself is a major European achievement, which required mutual compromises from all member states so that we could finally reach this point after many years of negotiations.
And the final piece of the puzzle that was missing to complete this comprehensive agreement was the Return Regulation, which we also succeeded in securing, and which we are now called upon to implement.
I believe we have struck the right balance. I believe we should acknowledge that we have made progress, that the influx has decreased significantly in our country. In Austria, significant progress has been made, with the number of returns now exceeding the number of asylum applications.
Therefore, I believe that we shouldn’t be stuck in a mindset that may have prevailed in previous years, because we need to recognize here that, after a great deal of effort, Europe has made significant progress. We can do better.
The Chancellor also spoke about innovative ideas, such as return hubs. Greece agrees in principle to explore such possibilities.
We must send a clear message: if you know you are not eligible for asylum in Europe and are coming solely for economic reasons, then Europe will do everything in its power to send you back to the country you came from.
At the same time, as Europe, we must open legal channels for migration, but this must be done in an organized and safe manner. If someone wants to come to Greece to work in an agricultural business – since we have such needs – then I want them to come under the terms of an intergovernmental agreement, with safety, so that I know where they are working, and so that they are insured and registered.
And I believe that this balance between a strict policy of securing the external borders and a European focus on returns, on the one hand, and the need to have legal pathways – legal channels for migration – on the other, is the right balance.
As we said, it took us many years to reach this point, but Greece and Austria are, I would say, practically on the same page when it comes to how we approach this issue.
Dimitris Gatsios (ERTNews): Mr. Chancellor, Mr. Prime Minister, good morning. My question is addressed to the Greek Prime Minister. Mr. Prime Minister, you spoke at length about the new crisis in the Middle East, the new flare-up that is prolonging the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, while shipping in the Red Sea is now also under open threat.
I would therefore like to ask you: in the early stages of the war, many European Union member states rushed to implement temporary support measures. If there is no immediate solution to this new flare-up, what can the European Union and its member states do to protect citizens and businesses from the consequences of this new crisis? Thank you.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: By 2026, Greece will have spent approximately 800 million euros on additional support measures to address the energy crisis resulting from the conflict in the Middle East.
I would like to thank the Chancellor for his very kind words regarding the progress of the Greek economy. This is particularly meaningful when it comes from countries that were strict with Greece during a very difficult time. But now Greece has proven that it can indeed serve as a model of fiscal compliance.
We are a country that generates primary surpluses; we are a country that is reducing its debt at the fastest rate in the history of all OECD countries. And we are a country that, precisely through this sound and prudent fiscal policy, has some limited room to support society in the face of extraordinary crises, such as the one we are currently facing.
As you know, we have already announced a one-time diesel subsidy of 10 cents that will be in effect for the month of August, regardless of how the situation develops. Over the past two days, we have again seen a temporary cessation of hostilities. We hope that we will return to a ceasefire so that trade and the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz can resume as before.
However, in any case, I hope that we will not have to meet at the European Council to discuss emergency European measures to support European societies and European businesses, should things get out of hand again.
Let’s keep in mind the image of the glass half full; let’s remain cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead.
I would just like to say one thing – and I believe I speak for all my colleagues in the European Council here – regarding inflation: as we discussed with the Austrian Chancellor, we’ve all found ourselves facing higher inflation than we had anticipated. This is not just a Greek problem; it is a European problem – it is an Austrian problem, a German problem, a French problem, and a Spanish problem. Why did this happen? Because fuel prices rose sharply, driving inflation upward.
So let’s keep in mind that there are no easy or magical solutions to this problem, but my country, Greece, will continue to support society to the best of its ability, always with a focus on the most vulnerable.
Journalist: I have a question for both of you. You mentioned collaboration in the tourism sector, particularly regarding specialization and training. Are you aware that companies in Austria are really struggling to find qualified personnel? Could we see some collaboration in this field?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Greece and Austria are two European “superpowers” in tourism. We both welcome more than 40 million visitors each, a figure that is roughly four times our population.
We are two countries that take the development of tourism very seriously and with environmental sensitivity. We are two countries that, I believe, have succeeded in convincing our societies that tourism, ultimately, brings far more benefits than costs to local and national economies, and we must continue along these lines. Tourism creates wealth and benefits for the entire country, and the same must hold true for both Austria and Greece.
During my visits to Austria, I often meet Greeks who choose to work there in the winter, at a time when there is not the same level of tourist traffic as in Greece. And the reverse can also be true for Austrians, who work in Greece during the summer.
Therefore, I believe that beyond the freedom of movement and the right to work in the European Union, a right guaranteed by our membership in the European family, we could possibly do more to ensure that these kinds of exchanges take place in a more structured and organized manner.
I believe that in this way we are providing supplemental income, for example, to young people in Greece who want to work during the winter and aren’t content to rely solely on unemployment benefits, or to young people in Austria who want to come to Greece to work during the summer, to gain different kinds of experiences and, possibly, supplement their income.
Therefore, the direction we have given to both ministers is to explore further opportunities for cooperation on human resources issues. And of course, to reiterate, the Minister of Tourism will subsequently visit one of the best tourism schools in Austria. We, too, have much to learn from Austria in the area of tourism education, not only at the university level but also at the post-secondary (Level 5) level, because Austria is indeed a country that, in terms of the quality of services provided, ranks, I believe, at the top among European countries with regard to its tourism product.
Dimitris Gatsios (ERTNews): My question this time is addressed to both leaders and is prompted by the major wildfires ravaging France and Spain and the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
I would like to ask you whether you believe that Europe and this specific mechanism can rise to the major challenges of the climate crisis, and how this mechanism can be further strengthened. Thank you.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: First of all, let me begin by expressing my solidarity with France and Spain, which are being tested by truly unprecedented wildfires. These are what are known as “mega” fires. We, too, have experienced them in previous years in our own country. Once they reach this level of intensity and temperature, they are extremely difficult to contain.
As we speak, Greece has two Canadair aircraft operating near Madrid. The images they are sending us truly reveal the scale and intensity of these fires.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has worked, and the fact that we are now able to send planes to Spain – and tomorrow another country could do the same to support Greece, as has happened in the past – is a very good sign of European solidarity and the effective allocation of resources among European countries.
Austrian firefighters come to Greece every summer. They are stationed in Greece so that, should we need additional assistance, we can draw on their expertise.
Austria has a system for organizing its fire department and civil protection that is completely different from ours. It’s impressive, I would say, because it relies heavily on volunteer organizations at the municipal and local community levels.
And of course, this also serves as a model for us on how we can mobilize more volunteers. This year, we have more than 5,000 organized volunteers across the country who are participating in the effort to protect our forests this summer.
Therefore, we are already cooperating with Austria at this level, and I think this cooperation is extremely useful. Obviously, we will need – and we have – as is evident in the European budget – to allocate more resources to adaptation policies in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
Of course, we want to ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. But we cannot realistically believe that in a Europe that accounts for less than 10% of global emissions, we will be able to tackle this phenomenon on our own.
In the meantime, however, our societies are suffering. They are suffering from wildfires, floods, and water shortages. Therefore, measures to adapt to a climate crisis that is already upon us must absolutely be included in the next budget, because every country will face its own unique challenges. The Chancellor told me here that even in Austria, for the first time, there are regions facing water shortages. Who would have expected that for a country like Austria?
And of course, adapting to the climate crisis also affects our tourism industry: how much snow will we have in our mountains a few years from now? Therefore, a holistic strategy is needed.
But I would like to thank the Austrian Chancellor once again because whenever we asked for help – in areas where Austria was able to provide it – Austria was always willing to assist us.
