Athens, Greece – In a diplomatic tête-à-tête, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni convened for a working dinner at the Maximos Mansion. The meeting, held on Thursday, revolved around the consolidation and amplification of the already robust Greek-Italian relations, with a particular focus on economic collaboration and bilateral energy initiatives.
The discussions extended to encompass a wide array of joint endeavors, both within the bilateral framework and as part of the broader European Union context. These initiatives span various spheres of mutual interest and address shared challenges that both nations face.
A significant portion of the conversation was dedicated to the pressing issue of migration. Both leaders concurred on the urgency of developing a cohesive European migration policy. They underscored the critical importance of bolstering border security measures while simultaneously combating the nefarious networks involved in smuggling. Additionally, a concerted effort to discourage departures from third countries was emphasized.
Within the context of the European agenda, amidst deliberations on novel fiscal regulations, Prime Minister Mitsotakis articulated a compelling point. He advocated for the consideration, at the very least, of excluding defense expenditures from the deficit calculations of European Union member states. This proposal reflects a broader dialogue within the EU regarding fiscal rules and the allocation of resources for defense-related activities.
As a testament to the productive nature of their discussions, both Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Prime Minister Meloni reached a consensus to convene the Supreme Council of Cooperation between Greece and Italy during the first half of 2024. This forthcoming meeting in Italy signifies the commitment of both nations to further deepen their bilateral ties and work collaboratively on issues of mutual importance.
