Europe cannot achieve autonomy without securing its energy supply, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said during a meeting in Riga with Latvian counterpart Baiba Braze.
He highlighted the urgent need for energy diversification as essential for ensuring long-term energy security for the EU.
During the talks, Gerapetritis and Braze also addressed common challenges facing their nations, including ongoing crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, migration issues, and European Union enlargement.
For Athens, both Latvia and Lithuania, which Gerapetritis will visit on Wednesday, are European partners and NATO allies, sharing with Greece the common characteristic of being located on the external borders of the EU.
“We decided with my friend and counterpart to genuinely develop a common understanding and remain in constant communication. We are like-minded countries in many aspects, both in bilateral matters as well as in regional and international issues,” Gerapetritis said.
He also referred to the importance of Greece’s current role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, while Latvia, a future candidate, prepares for a bid in the coming year.
The ministers stressed their alignment on various bilateral, regional and international matters, emphasizing their commitment to security and cooperation within NATO and the EU.