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The ‘papers’ of K. Mitsotakis at the ’27’ Summit on energy

Of Dimitris Gatsiou

The Prime Minister is preparing for the intense discussions of the Summit in Brussels on the two days of March 24 and 25 and with … a compass the expression, expressed in all tones, that “European answers, to a European problem” are required. The … meeting of the “27” leaders takes place in the … shadow of the tectonic changes in the geopolitical and energy map, as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Tectonic changes that have a direct impact on the budgets of consumers and businesses, with the work of the Summit being considered crucial to the major issue of the common reaction in the face of … Complications that correct accuracy and continuous appreciation of goods.

“Brave initiative”

The signal to the Commission to seek and propose to the “27” tangible proposals and solutions has already been given by the extraordinary Versailles Summit. And what remains to be answered, with the opening of the curtain in Brussels, is whether the work of the European Council will … be reminiscent of the setting and intensity of internal discussions and processes of July 2020. When a total of five days of consultation were required, before the European family lights up … a green light in the Recovery Fund in response to the suffocating pressures of the pandemic virus on economies.

“The demands and needs of the people of Europe are common to all … The consequences on the lives of citizens of energy and consumer goods are so severe that no single country can meet them … is a priority for the European Union to intervene, mainly, in the field of energy … Here we are, it is clear that we need a brave European initiative … “, is the message sent by Athens.

The expectations

In the aftermath of the government announcements for the next stage of support for households, businesses and farmers, the Maximos Palace is waiting for the … time of Brussels for the energy crisis, while at the same time “concreting” the Greek alliances. In this context, the common Athens-Rome-Madrid and Lisbon front is decisive for the Greek aspirations.

Hosted by Mario Draghi, physical presence of Pedro Sanchez and Antonio Costa and online presence of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, due to coronavirus disease, the discussions of the four countries of the European South took place yesterday, with the main focus on energy and common recovery. “frugal” northern member states. “This is a pan-European problem that requires a common European response, and that is why the prime minister is keeping the need for comprehensive answers to the crisis at the forefront,” government officials said.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis is heading to the Summit having formed alliances, but also with supplies of the “six points” plan that he has proposed and is under the … microscope of the European Commission, which is called to present to the “27” shielding movements. The culmination of Mitsotakis’ proposals, in favor of which are Italy, France, Spain and Belgium, is the imposition of a ceiling on the wholesale price of gas, the “fixing” of the price fluctuation margin and the corresponding price of electricity. Government officials say the four leaders who met yesterday do not all belong to the family of the European People’s Party. And this, as they comment, shows that the proposals submitted by the Prime Minister penetrate all political groups and are echoed. In any case, with all the disagreements between the leaders, everyone in Brussels recognizes the need for additional action, which will support millions of consumers and businesses.

With the completion, early yesterday at noon, of the Mitsotaki-Draghi-Sanchez-Costa talks, three are the main points that one of the prime ministerial reports can hold, which will be the peak of the Greek strategy in the Summit Council:

-Point first: The Prime Minister stressed that no country can face this crisis alone, as national initiatives are not enough.

-Point secondly: We need European initiatives against speculative trends.

-Point third: To point out that the energy crisis can awaken the nightmare of populism in Europe.

“We need actions that will protect our societies at least until the end of the war and the normalization of the functioning of the markets … I am sure that the European Council must not just realize the urgency of the circumstances but take immediate decisions …” , said the Prime Minister.

“Out of place and time” the debate on ballots

The Maximos Palace and the financial staff, three twenty-four hours after the announcements of the support measures, propose the key concepts of “shielding” households, businesses and farmers and at the same time fiscal stability.

“It is a choice that converges with the needs of society, but does not deviate from the resilience of the economy, faces the challenges of the present without undermining the future, respecting the sacrifices made by citizens in the past,” said government officials.

In a more general context, as the same executives observe, with whom “K” spoke, the messages sent by Kyriakos Mitsotakis last Wednesday had a clear tone. “Citizens have suffered from multiple crises. First the economic crisis, then the pandemic crisis and now the energy crisis. Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke realistically. And the government is here, it knows the difficulties and can do what it does … “We support, mainly, the most vulnerable and the middle class … At the same time, however, we also keep supplies for the next period … Besides, the extent of the problem and the effects on the economy are unknown in the next period”, they note.

At a time, with many questions in the geopolitical and energy equation, then, the government keeps stability at the forefront, focuses its strategy on the needs of the people, hopes for recovery and closes any scenario for resorting to early elections.

“Every debate on elections is out of place and out of time. The debate is cut here and there is no such issue, as it creates a climate of instability, at a time when the country needs stability and needs leadership,” government officials said. They remind that the Prime Minister has never, neither in public nor in his private debates, left such a possibility open, clarifying many times that ballot boxes will be set up at the end of the four years.

* Republished from the “Chapter” that is circulating

Source: Capital

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