“The energy challenge goes beyond the emergency of war, we need a European response”. Thus Prime Minister Mario Draghi, at the end of the meeting between Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal at Villa Madama, in view of the European Council next week. The Spanish president, Pedro Sanchez, and the Portuguese president, Antonio Costa, in attendance, while the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the summit via videoconference.
“The European Union reacted with unity and determination to the aggression of Ukraine. We must show the same cohesion and the same conviction in protecting our economies from the consequences of the war, in particular from energy increases but not only”, underlined Draghi .
“I want to thank Prime Minister Sanchez, Prime Minister Costa and Prime Minister Mitsotakis for their participation in this meeting. Your presence and the demonstration of the great friendship between our countries. A bond that goes back in time, and which today is expressed in the strong social, cultural and economic relationships between our citizens and our companies “.
“We have many common challenges, to which we want to find common answers – together with all the other partners of the European Union. The most urgent challenge – and also the main topic of this summit – is that of energy. The invasion of Ukraine on the part of Russia has opened a phase of strong volatility on the commodity markets, which added to the increases we had already observed in recent months. We must intervene immediately, there is the feeling of doing something of significance immediately, to defend the purchasing power of families, especially the most vulnerable, support the productive fabric, protect the recovery “.
” The purpose of today’s meeting is to have a common approach for the next European Council, we must have concrete measures on the table to protect all Member States in an area that is decisive for our future. A common management for the energy market suits everyone “, said the Prime Minister, Mario Draghi.” We have very similar ideas but we must also convince the other EU countries “, he explained.
“The war in Ukraine has shown that this is a necessary and urgent objective, in full complementarity with NATO. A stronger European defense makes NATO stronger” and therefore, he continued, “These commitments will be sealed next week. at the extraordinary Atlantic Council and in the meeting of the European Council with President Biden and then at the NATO Summit in Madrid at the end of June “.
Draghi spoke of a “natural convergence of views” with the other three leaders, proposing a “common approach for the next European Council”. Sanchez: peace is defended
According to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, “European values, our freedoms and the rule of law” are under attack at the moment. This is why he recalls the importance of welcoming refugees, supporting the Ukrainian resistance, and the joint action of sanctions and diplomacy. But next week at the Brussels summit it will also be essential to address the issue of the so-called EU “strategic compass”, because, the Spanish premier recalls, “I believe that with his unjustified war Putin has taught us a lesson, that peace is defended” . Mitsotakis: risk of populism awakening
“The energy crisis” following the conflict in Ukraine “undermines the recovery and can awaken the nightmare of populism.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis remotely attending the press conference. Costa: do not interrupt the recovery
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa hoped that next week’s European Council “will take concrete decisions that meet the needs of our families and our companies so that the ongoing recovery effort is not interrupted”. The “central point”, for the Portuguese leader, is to control the cost of gas and “prevent electricity prices from being influenced by these increases”. The day of the victims of Covid
The summitwas held in the Contessa room at Villa Madama, between flags listed in mourning for the day in memory of the victims of Covid. On the podium where the heads of governments made statements to the press, the flags of Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and the European Union were edged with a black ribbon. “I remember all the people who died during the pandemic and their loved ones. To them the closeness of the government and my personal”, said Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
