BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/ M. Aroni) – The government is ready, within its fiscal capacity, to address the impact of fuel price increases, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday, shortly after the end of the European Council meeting in Brussels.
Mitsotakis said that there was an extensive discussion about the economic impact of the prolonged geopolitical crisis and the war in the Middle East. He explained that the longer the conflicts lasts, the more negative the impact will be for the global, the European, and consequently for the Greek economy.
Mitsotakis said that the conclusions of the European Council open the door for more flexibility in taking national and European measures to address this crisis. He added that he cannot reveal more details for the time being, but reiterated that the government is ready, within its fiscal capabilities, to deal with the effects of higher fuel prices and possibly higher electricity prices.
Asked about reports in Turkiye that it has sent letters to NATO, the EU and the US expressing its dissatisfaction with the relocation of the Greek Patriot battery to Karpathos, the prime minister replied: These allegations are legally unfounded, but I would say that they are also completely untimely if one takes into account the broader geopolitical situation. He added that Greece is not negotiating with anyone the disposition of its defense forces at an operational level.
Regarding the Greek Patriot missile battery in Saudi Arabia, the Greek prime minister pointed out that it has been there since 2021, by decision of the KYSEA, as part of a broader effort to protect critical infrastructure, which has to do with the security of fuel supply. “Today’s interception was a strictly defensive action, which is part of this agreement made with Saudi Arabia,” he stressed, adding that Saudi Arabia has been a strategic partner of Greece for several years and that it should be recognized that the Greek Armed Forces actively demonstrated their operational readiness in a very complex exercise.
Responding to those who wonder how Greece benefits from such an initiative, Mitsotakis replied that if these refineries – a critical refinery in Saudi Arabia – had actually been hit, then the price of oil today would be much higher than it actually is, because the protection of critical energy infrastructure on both sides should be the top priority at this time.
He also mentioned that Greece and France played a leading role in the European Council in the need to formulate a proposal for a moratorium, which would exclude any attack on energy facilities, whether they are located in Iran or in the Gulf countries.
Regarding the EU’s mutual assistance clause, Mitsotakis described as “extremely positive” the fact that in the case of the attack on Cyprus, many European countries, first and foremost Greece, promptly stepped in to assist by offering air and naval support, so that Cyprus could feel completely safe.