PM Mitsotakis to Euronews: Three major challenges for Europe in the near future

The first challenge that Europe must face, the prime minister said, was the need to convert strategic autonomy into a real and effective policy, and not just a slogan.

"Look at defence, for example. Not only must we spend more on defence but we must coordinate our defence spending," he said.

The second challenge was linked to the competitiveness of Europe as a whole, Mitsotakis said, and how to ensure that Europe remained competitive with respect to China, the United States and the Global South. He noted that this would mean better and better-paid jobs for European citizens.

The third challenge, according to the prime minister, was more specific and concerned the farming sector. At a time when food security was very high on the agenda, it was important to understand that some of the steps taken in the last five years in connection with the green transition had put excessive pressure on farmers, perhaps more than had been expected, and that it was important to ensure that the green transition would be carried out at rates that would not significantly impact farmers' incomes.

Referring to the European elections, the prime minister said that these were particularly important for Europe as a whole, given the broader economic and geopolitical framework. He noted that these elections were taking place at a time of great upheaval, with a war raging in the east of Europe and a major humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, at a time when Europe was emerging from a difficult five-year period.

He urged voters to turn out to vote for the European elections, noting that what happened in Brussels and in Strasbourg was important for people's daily life, making it important that those representing Greece in the European Parliament were suitably qualified.