Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa held a joint press conference following their meeting at the Maximos Mansion in Athens. The two leaders presented shared positions on both the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework and European defence cooperation—while Mitsotakis also delivered pointed criticism of Greece’s opposition parties.
A Bold Budget for a New Reality
Speaking on the upcoming EU budget, Mitsotakis stressed that Europe faces a transformed geopolitical and economic landscape. ‘Europe is called upon to strengthen its defence, accelerate its green and digital transitions, protect its external borders, and preserve its competitiveness,’ he said. ‘These challenges demand commensurate funding. We cannot move forward with a budget designed for yesterday’s needs.’
He called for a bold, ambition-aligned approach—and for financial instruments suited to investing in European public goods: defence, energy security, and critical infrastructure. ‘Europe cannot do more with less,’ he added. ‘If we want it to meet today’s demands, we must equip it with the necessary means—while preserving the strong pillars of Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy. And the discussion on new own resources must now move forward.’
Mitsotakis also challenged the narrow focus often placed on net contributions by certain member states. ‘The debate frequently centres solely on how much some countries pay into the EU budget,’ he noted. ‘What’s overlooked is that these same economies are among the biggest beneficiaries of the Single Market. Fairness demands that this reality be reflected in our decisions on the common budget.’
Defending Maritime Freedom
On regional tensions in the Gulf, Mitsotakis reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to maritime freedom and sea security as strategic imperatives. He rejected any form of transit tolls through the Strait of Hormuz as unacceptable—and highlighted Greece’s active role in upholding these principles via Operation ASPIDES in the Red Sea.
Criticism of Opposition Promises
Comparing Greece’s and Portugal’s responses to the financial crisis, Mitsotakis drew a sharp contrast. ‘Portugal needed one bailout; Greece endured three—and suffered for a full decade,’ he said. ‘In Portugal, political forces quickly agreed on what reforms were needed—and did not undermine them. In my country, that consensus never materialised, leading to three successive programmes and a lag behind Europe.’
‘Thankfully, over the past seven years, we’ve proven we can leave that period behind,’ he continued. ‘We are staunch defenders of fiscal stability—and stand firmly against any voice promising handouts without regard for a budget bound by clear limits. We’ve cut unemployment, respected fiscal rules, generated surpluses, and supported society amid external shocks. That discipline gives us greater negotiating power.’
Concluding on a broader note, he remarked: ‘Our countries were once labelled “PIGS”—but today, we’re leading actors on the European stage.’