With the eastern Mediterranean firmly at the centre of geopolitical developments, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, already in Dublin, will have an opportunity to present Greece’s positions at two consecutive high-level European meetings. Today, he will attend the 9th European Political Community (EPC) summit, and tomorrow the informal meeting of EU heads of state and government.Of particular political significance for Athens is the second meeting, as the prime minister — according to a report by Politico — is expected to raise with his European counterparts the issue of the recent ratification of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum by the parliament in eastern Libya. Greece wants to highlight and maintain a firm European position against the illegal agreement, as well as the need to respect international law and the sovereign rights of member states.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to thank the 26 European partners for their unanimous support for Greece’s positions. The move carries clear political significance, as the diplomatic tussle between Athens and Ankara over the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnection is in full swing.
In Ireland’s capital, the prime minister will play an active role in both meetings, focusing on European competitiveness, energy security and technological autonomy.
Energy connectivity
At the European Political Community summit, he will co-chair a thematic panel on competitiveness, innovation, connectivity and affordable energy prices, with speakers including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Mr Mitsotakis is expected to stress that Europe’s economic competitiveness is directly linked to its security and prosperity. He will also highlight the need to increase European investment in technology and artificial intelligence, the removal of barriers in the single market, and the creation of new trade, energy and digital corridors.
Particular emphasis is expected to be placed on energy connectivity and the protection of maritime routes and freedom of navigation, areas in which Greece is seeking to strengthen its role as an energy and transit hub for the wider region.
The informal European Council meeting on artificial intelligence will bring together industry figures, including Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch. The prime minister spoke at the 81st UN General Assembly last September about the need for a strong and binding framework for the international governance of artificial intelligence, warning that its unchecked development could create risks that outweigh its potential benefits. Kyriakos Mitsotakis had stressed that self-regulation by major technology companies was not an adequate solution and that a strong regulatory authority needed to be established. He had also underlined the need for international cooperation, while recognising the particular responsibility of the US — where the most advanced models are being developed — for shaping the framework that will determine the future of artificial intelligence. He is also expected to refer to Greek initiatives, particularly the ban on social media access for minors under 15.