At a highly critical moment of geopolitical shifts, negotiations over the war in Ukraine, and crucial decisions regarding European defense, Kyriakos Mitsotakis is in Brussels today. He will first attend the European People’s Party (EPP) Summit before participating in the main EU Summit.

Although no definitive decisions on defense are expected, and the topic will not dominate discussions, Athens is closely watching the “White Paper” presented by the European Commission, which incorporates several Greek positions. According to government sources, the reference to defense programs of common European interest is particularly positive, including the proposal for a European air defense shield, which the Greek prime minister jointly submitted with his Polish counterpart to the European Commission president last May.

Athens also emphasizes that the new €150 billion financial tool should serve as a means of strengthening European strategic autonomy rather than financing the defense industries of third countries.

With Turkey’s involvement in the discussions on a new European security architecture, Greece insists that any decisions must consider the security concerns and defense interests of all EU member states, as outlined in the European Council’s decisions.

Turkey and İmamoğlu

Despite discussions in recent days, Turkey will not be included under the umbrella of the massive €150 billion financial package, according to reports from the Financial Times, which the Greek government confirms. The “White Paper” states that “the EU will continue to engage constructively in developing a mutually beneficial partnership […] in a gradual, proportional, and reversible manner,” while also noting that “Turkey’s constructive participation will be crucial in advancing various areas of cooperation.”

The recent arrest and prosecution of Ekrem İmamoğlu have sparked significant concern in Athens and Brussels regarding the state of the rule of law in Turkey. While the EU cannot exclude Turkey from discussions on the new geopolitical landscape, there is also growing awareness that Erdoğan is maneuvering to consolidate his political imperium.

It remains to be seen whether Mitsotakis will comment on these developments upon his arrival. However, from Slovenia yesterday, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis stressed that “compromises on the rule of law and political freedoms cannot be tolerated. Convincing answers must be given for every alleged violation.”

According to the schedule, a meeting of the Greece-Turkey High-Level Cooperation Council is expected to take place in Ankara after Easter, although the current climate is far from favorable.

“No” to Budget Cuts

Given that the primary topic of the summit is European competitiveness, Greece has firmly stated that EU budget funds should not be cut. In other words, Athens does not support the idea that if new funds are needed for defense, they should come at the expense of areas such as social policy or agriculture.

Migration Summit

Regarding migration, Greece has reiterated that the priority is implementing the new Migration and Asylum Pact, particularly increasing and accelerating the returns of those not eligible for international protection. Another key focus is the external dimension of migration policy and partnerships with third countries. Mitsotakis will participate in a meeting of European leaders on migration on Thursday, just before the start of the European Council Summit.