2024-07-14 07:43:15
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has welcomed the “clear commitment” by all NATO member states to spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense spending, adding that European countries cannot “just count” of the USA for defense, reports in “Kathimerini”, citing an interview of the prime minister for CNN.
“Greece has been doing this for many, many years and I’m happy to see that other countries, which in recent years have definitely not spent as much on defense as they should, are obviously catching up,” Mitsotakis said in a wide-ranging interview with the Xi CNN Julia Chatterley, broadcasts BTA.
The Greek prime minister said increased defense spending was an important issue for “us Europeans because we cannot simply rely on the US for our own defense because we in Europe also have to spend more”.
He added that “maybe 2 percent is not enough in this changing geopolitical landscape,” referring to the war in Ukraine. Europe will have to consider creating a “European defense facility,” Mitsotakis noted, referring to a proposal he made with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to create an “iron dome” or common European air defense shield.
Asked to comment on concerns expressed about whether US President Joe Biden’s bid for a new term is appropriate, Mitsotakis said he understood the interest in the topic but would refrain from commenting “for obvious reasons”. Biden had a notable presence at the meeting and “spoke eloquently on important topics,” but the American election is an issue that concerns American citizens, he noted.
Regarding Ukraine, Mitsotakis pointed out that in the context of the meeting it was clear that the path of the country’s integration into NATO is “irreversible”, as well as the support provided by the member countries at the bilateral level and within the framework of the alliance.
In connection with the rise of far-right forces at the European level, Mitsotakis emphasized that the centrist parties have a majority in the European Parliament, which will be confirmed with the election of Ursula von der Leyen for a new mandate at the head of the European Commission. He added that fears of the rise of the far right in Europe may be overblown.
Commenting on the topic of tourism and whether Greece and its environment can withstand an influx of tourists three times its population, Mitsotakis said that people who visit Greece have a good time there and that’s why they keep coming back.
“However, it is our duty to ensure that our tourism industry is protected against climate change and one of our main priorities is to extend the tourist season so that not all tourists come to our islands in July and August,” he said, dismissing the argument that Greece has a problem with overtourism.
As for foreign media headlines about the creation of a “six-day work week” in Greece, Mitsotakis said “it’s a myth” that Greece has such a regime. Only a small number of industries that operate in a continuous mode can introduce a six-day working week for their employees, but only with the consent of the employees and with substantial additional remuneration.
“We have one of the most advanced and modern labor protection systems in Europe,” stressed the Greek Prime Minister.