Mitsotakis rejects foreign directives on Greek defence in Athens meeting with Costa

Bilateral talks at Maximos Mansion

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis received European Council President António Costa at the Maximos Mansion in Athens on 3 September 2026. The consultation formed part of Costa's tour across European Union member states ahead of upcoming institutional terms. During their joint appearance, Mitsotakis affirmed that Greece is preparing for its upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union with responsibility and readiness to advance shared priorities. The discussions centered on European security architecture, geopolitical developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework.

Aegean tensions and the SAFE defence initiative

Mitsotakis briefed Costa on recent developments in the Aegean Sea, including disputes surrounding marine parks and territorial sovereignty. The prime minister stated that Greece remains a peaceful country that threatens no other nation, but made clear that Athens will not accept external instructions concerning its territorial defense capabilities. He stated that any candidate country seeking closer ties with the European Union must respect international law and good neighborly relations.

It is inconceivable that an active threat of war and the questioning of Greek sovereignty exist from a country that expects to improve its relations with the EU. We want to strengthen Turkey's European path, but this must go hand in hand with building good neighborly relations with Greece. My homeland is a peaceful country that poses no threat to anyone. However, it will not accept instructions from anyone on how to strengthen its defensive shield.

The Greek prime minister connected these regional dynamics to the EU's SAFE defense instrument, which funds and develops European military manufacturing. Mitsotakis stressed that third-country involvement in SAFE must not undermine the security interests of member states, adding that the bloc must choose its partners carefully while building an impenetrable defense shield against external threats.

Negotiations over the 2028-2034 EU budget

The leaders reviewed the negotiation schedule for the next European budget covering the 2028–2034 period. Mitsotakis pointed out that the Cyprus Presidency established the baseline for the budget talks, while European partners await proposals from the Irish Presidency detailing the overall budget volume and resource allocations. He argued that member states must reach a political consensus before the end of 2026 to guarantee financial stability.

To put it simply, we cannot achieve more by spending less. For us, policies that support convergence ensure that growth concerns all countries on the periphery of the Union, but also benefit the countries at the core of our common European family.

Climate funding, energy, and competitiveness

Addressing budgetary priorities, Mitsotakis emphasized the need to expand the EU's own resources to preserve traditional allocations, such as cohesion funds and the Common Agricultural Policy, while funding emerging requirements. He pointed to destructive wildfires that affected several European countries during the summer, observing that although Greece avoided the worst damage, the climate crisis remains a permanent challenge requiring dedicated resources. In closing his remarks, Mitsotakis argued that European competitiveness requires investment in artificial intelligence and urgent measures to reduce energy costs for households and businesses relative to global competitors.