Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed the importance of EU border security at the North-South Summit on European safety and defense that took place in Lapland, Finland on Sunday.
He spoke at a press conference about the importance of the meeting between northern and southern European countries, which bear the brunt of irregular migration as the EU’s entry point from the Mediterranean.
The summit was attended by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
“It is very important to bring together leaders of two southern countries and two northern countries, as well as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, to discuss what challenges we face together,” the Greek PM said.
“It was very constructive for us to understand what issues Finland is facing, mainly in terms of managing the 1,340 kilometer border with Russia. But it was an opportunity for me and Giorgia to present some security and migration challenges that we face in the Eastern and Central Mediterranean,” Mitsotakis said in speaking of EU border security following the conclusion of the North-South Summit.
EU border protection
Mitsotakis also highlighted the issue of border protection as a priority, saying:
“The first is that border protection is an integral part of the migration strategy, as well as a common priority, regardless of whether we have land or water borders. Better management of these challenges should be a common European concern and this is also the issue we discussed at the European Council.
And I would like to reiterate from here in Lapland how important and necessary it is to provide additional funding at European level, not only for border management, but also for the physical structures that allow us to manage our borders more effectively.”
The Greek Premier also spoke about overall security in Europe. “Regarding security, there is a common understanding that we need to do more and we need to be smarter in the allocation of resources for defense and security, whether at national level or at European level,” he maintained. “I have personally advocated for more flexibility in terms of Europe’s fiscal rules. And how we can use them [as well as . . .] defense spending, but we also need to explore all possible means that will allow us to collectively strengthen European defense.”
European Council security and defense discussion
Security and defense are challenges to be discussed by EU leaders at a meeting of the European Council in February. According to Mitsotakis, there is a “need to think a little more innovatively. It is very important, especially at this time when we need to convince our transatlantic allies and transatlantic partner, that we take our security seriously and responsibly.”
“It was highly instructive for us to understand the particular issues Finland is facing in terms of managing a 1,300 kilometer border with Russia,” Mitsotakis said, adding that “border protection is an integral part of our migration strategy.”
In conclusion, the Greek PM thanked his Finnish counterpart for the hospitality and said:
“I would like to say that these informal meetings are always particularly constructive and I thank you for giving us the opportunity to visit not only this wonderful part of your country, but also to better understand what the concerns that the Nordic countries face in terms of security are.”