File photo.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed on Tuesday comments by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who said she is ready to explore ways of budgetary flexibility to allow for higher defense spending by member-states.
“I was among the first that supported this direction, long before this came to the forefront. It should be recollected that I have analysed it at all the European Summits and I did the same in my article to the Financial Times before the informal summit on Monday, where I again supported that the time of a common European defence has come,” he said on a social media post.
He also pointed to a joint letter signed with Polish President Donald Tusk as early as May 2024, requesting the funding of the Europe’s single anti-aircraft shield. “It appears that from now on the road to strengthening European defence is opening, with more and more powers recognising its necessity. In an uncertain and unstable world, Europe is called upon to claim its place in terms of security and progress,” Mitsotakis said.
For this to happen, a wider fiscal space is necessary, which will allow member states to spend on their protection without questioning of their financial prospects, he added.