Kyriakos Mitsotakis has left the door open to additional support measures while ruling out an election-driven spending spree, speaking in Brussels. With the energy crisis putting pressure on households and businesses, the Prime Minister assured the public that the government had not exhausted its options for intervention, while also sending a strong message to the opposition.

“If some people believe that we are going to blow the budget and hand out money left, right and center to make ourselves more popular ahead of the elections, I’m afraid I’ve proved many times that this is not my approach to politics,” he said, taking a swipe at those who “drove the country onto the rocks” in the past.

As he outlined it, the government’s approach is to provide more support where needed, without putting fiscal stability at risk.

‘Support does not stop here’ – What he said about new measures

“Support for society does not stop with the measures we have announced,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis made clear, leaving open the possibility of further interventions depending on how the crisis develops.

The Prime Minister explained that Greece is currently in a position to support households and businesses, unlike other European countries that are undergoing an excessive deficit procedure.

“I am not expecting magical European solutions,” he said, describing Athens’ aim of securing additional fiscal flexibility for targeted and temporary measures without changing its surplus targets.

He also defended the measures relating to heating oil, arguing that the government had done “genuinely the best it could”.

‘We are not a Gaulish village’ – Warning over rising costs

In a pointed remark, Kyriakos Mitsotakis sought to temper expectations about Greece’s ability to shield its economy from international turmoil.

“If anyone believes that Greece will be some kind of Gaulish village, isolated and completely unaffected by this crisis, I’m afraid they are mistaken,” he said.

He referred to the two wars and the major energy crisis, explaining that the government could not anticipate in advance every need that might arise from fluctuations in the prices of oil and other products.

‘No concessions’ on agriculture and cohesion – The 16-country front

The Prime Minister also adopted a firm stance in negotiations over the European Union’s next multiannual budget, with Greece joining 15 other countries in seeking to protect funding for the Common Agricultural Policy and cohesion policy.

“I think it became absolutely clear from our discussions that agricultural policy and cohesion policy must be protected at least at the funding levels proposed by the European Commission,” he stressed.

“We are not in a position to make concessions on this plan, and 15 other countries share this view,” he added.

He did not rule out compromises in other areas of the negotiations, acknowledging that funding would have to be found without placing a disproportionate burden on wealthier countries.

He was cautious about the timetable, saying he could not predict whether an agreement would be reached by December and warning that “the first half of 2027 will be difficult”.

The dig at Androulakis over the ‘blue letters’

The Prime Minister also took a swipe at Nikos Androulakis over migration and the debate surrounding European initiatives.

“You can see that the blue letters often receive a response at the European Council,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis remarked.

“It is a Greek initiative that is becoming European policy,” he added, insisting that “it is our duty to protect our borders”.

Message on industry and the green transition

On energy, the Prime Minister reiterated the need to press ahead with the green transition without undermining the competitiveness of European industry.

“We must not impose additional costs on sectors of our economy that do not yet have the technical solutions needed to achieve decarbonisation,” he said.

“The green transition must go hand in hand with support for productive Europe and productive Greece,” he stressed, reiterating the importance of expanding renewable energy sources and energy storage facilities as key measures for keeping energy costs under control.