Mitsotakis: A common European response to the energy crisis is needed

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that “addressing such a challenge requires a common European response” while noting that “actions are needed until the end of the war and the normalization of the operation of markets.”

In addition, the prime minister described as “a matter of paramount importance the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

“The 4 countries agreed that the solutions can not be just national. Yesterday we announced an additional set of measures. We propose harmonized European policy interventions against speculative trends in order to restore the balance between gas and electricity prices. We must make decisions immediately. It is impossible not to form a united front at the level of the economy. “This energy crisis can rekindle the nightmare of populism on our continent,” he said.

Finally, he informed that Greece will undertake the reconstruction of the Mariupol maternity hospital that was bombed. “To publicly express my disgust for what is happening in Ukraine, especially in Mariupol. “The Greek government will undertake, when the hostilities are over, to reconstruct the Mariupol maternity hospital that was bombed,” said Mr. Mitsotakis.

Greece is ready to rebuild the maternity hospital in Mariupol, the center of the Greek minority in Ukraine, a city dear to our hearts and symbol of the barbarity of the war.

— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) March 18, 2022

Starting his remarks following the meeting of the four leaders in Rome, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi emphasized that the talks focused on the need to save energy, the necessary effort to separate the price of electricity from that of gas, and to achieve a reduction in the price of gas.

“European answers are needed to European problems,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, adding that immediate action was needed. “Our countries will ask the next European Summit to implement specific initiatives to respond to economic and social needs,” he concluded.

The Prime Ministers of Italy, Spain and Portugal wished their Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis a speedy recovery from the coronavirus.

Follow the statements of the Prime Ministers of Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece after their quadripartite meeting: