In a CNN interview, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared it's time for the European Union to make critical decisions. While preferring consensus, Mitsotakis acknowledged the potential need for independent action, stating, "Consensus is desirable, but if necessary, we should proceed independently." He advocated for a comprehensive review of the Draghi Report, emphasizing the importance of considering the broader European interest, not just national interests.
Mitsotakis believes the EU is at a crucial juncture, requiring decisions involving common financing, regulatory simplification, and tackling obstacles like the Capital Markets Union. He cited the pandemic-era Recovery and Resilience Fund as an example of necessary action taken despite initial skepticism.
Turning to Greece's economic performance, Mitsotakis highlighted the country's "remarkable recovery," contrasting its primary surpluses, tax reductions, and industrial growth with the struggles of other nations.
Discussing the Thessaloniki Metro, he described the project's complexity due to the discovery of ancient artifacts during construction. The unearthing of parts of ancient Thessaloniki required meticulous care and significantly impacted the project, he explained. The challenge, Mitsotakis said, was balancing the completion of the metro with the preservation of Greece's unique cultural heritage.