What Vangelis spoke about.

Mr President, the Pact for the Mediterranean is late. But it must be a genuine geopolitical initiative centred on Europe's stability, security and energy autonomy. The Eastern Mediterranean can and should become a strategic energy hub. The planned EastMed gas pipeline, the electricity interconnection between Greece-Cyprus-Israel, as well as Greece-Egypt, are crucial projects for shaping our energy

Mr President, enlargement of the European Union is about the future of the European project. It is about how we perceive the completion of European integration. It is therefore a tool for peace, stability and cooperation, especially in regions that for decades have experienced tensions and divisions. Greece has long supported enlargement, particularly with regard to the European perspective of the

Mr President, the steps taken so far are mainly to find resources to strengthen the defence industry. However, for European citizens to feel safe, a real deterrent force must be built at the borders to ensure peace against authoritarian regimes that, provocatively and unjustifiably, spend huge sums on arming themselves and behave aggressively. But this cannot be achieved with 27 national headquart

It has been understood that this war must end with peace initiatives. But the winner must be the one who does not forcibly try to impose the difference of borders, but culture and peace. And that is why we believe that the European Union must be at the negotiating table, at the same time as peace initiatives, so that we can end this war with the victory of civilization, the victory of peace.

Madam President, once again we are called upon to vote on the annual report on the European Union's Common Foreign and Defence Policy, which I am voting for. This time, however, it is of great importance, as Europe has put defence and security at the top of its priorities, following the adoption of the White Paper by the European Parliament. In this direction, we are forced to make huge strides in

Mr President, Commissioner Kubilius, I am pleased that you are here with us today as the first Commissioner for Defence of the European Union, because, consider, ladies and gentlemen, that since 2006, the Government of Greece of New Democracy, in which I was Minister of Defence, has been calling for the creation of a Commissioner for Defence, the adoption of the escape clause in defence spending a

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, I have listened very carefully to the speech of the Vice-President, Mr Margaritis Schinas, and I fully endorse it. We are the only party, the EPP, which has a special committee on this issue, and together with Mrs Zovko and distinguished colleagues we present concrete proposals. Because it is a fact that we are going through a period of instability, wars and

Madam President, Commissioner, the report on relations between the European Union and India is the second on this issue in the current term of office of the European Parliament. This is a balanced report with references to all the shortcomings in respect for human rights, the social inclusion of minorities, respect for pluralism and the rule of law. However, progress has also been made in these ar

Mr President, the new parliamentary term unfortunately begins with an inconceivable disaster that my country, Greece, is experiencing, with huge social and economic repercussions. Extreme weather conditions have tested the strength of the Greeks since the beginning of the summer. First with the fires and then with the huge floods that cost the lives of dozens of people, they plunged into the mud i

Madam President, I believe that today's debate is unfair to my country. It is unfair to Greece. Because it is happening now, in a pre-election period, and it is seen as interference in the electoral processes of a Member State of the Union. We transfer here the disagreements that we have developed in Greece on a number of occasions. It is well known, colleagues, that the issue of wiretapping has b

Mr President, the uncertain and unstable environment in which we live, created by destabilising factors that are waiting to destroy the foundations of the European project, requires us today more than ever to strengthen the single European defence and security policy of our Union. And I stress this not only as a European but also as a Greek, who sees his recalcitrant neighbor blackmailing, violati

Mr President, what else do we need to hear to finally wake up? How many desperate people seeking a human life and a better tomorrow must rescue the Greek Coast Guard from the sea to act more effectively? The number indicating the seriousness of this problem has now been lost. In my country, Greece, just the other day there was another shipwreck off Crete, with around 500 human souls struggling wit

Madam President, the upcoming meeting of European leaders must finally provide brave solutions; He owes it to the European citizen, who sees the price boom, the food crisis, inflation and is no longer able to meet his basic needs. To this end, we welcome yesterday's report by the European Commission. But we're too late. Even before the summer we had pointed out the problem and had tabled targeted

Madam President, shortly before the start of this difficult winter, everyone's eyes are on the decisions that the European Union will take to tackle the energy crisis and reduce energy prices. The increases will affect every European household, every business and every citizen without exception who already sees their purchasing power decline every day and is unable to meet even their basic needs.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow's summit agenda is particularly important because it focuses on issues that we have been discussing for too long and on which the time has come to take decisions, to move from words to actions and to find solutions. First of all, the integration of the Western Balkans into the European family must now be a common goal of all European leaders and the fou

Madam President, today's plenary debate in the European Parliament on the consequences of the ongoing war in Ukraine is particularly important, as all the European leadership is here in the European Parliament to listen to us and to jointly shape our initiatives and policies for the next day, which unfortunately seems bleak at European and global level. The fact is that the Russian invasion of Ukr

Madam President, Prime Minister, thank you for your presence, High Representative, I believe that Europe is becoming stronger from crises and so now, after Russia's barbaric and reckless invasion of Ukraine, I believe that a new geopolitical Europe is being born, a Europe in which we should feel the territories of all Member States our own and which we can defend at any cost. A strong Europe now w

Madam President, Mr President of the French Republic, we wish you good luck, because the challenges facing the French Presidency at this critical juncture for Europe, but also for the whole world, are significant, unprecedented and multidimensional. Immigration, which concerns the countries of the South and especially my homeland, Greece, but also the need to shield and strengthen the external bor

Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, ladies and gentlemen, the recent European Union summit on the Western Balkans is a clear, strong, political symbol, but also a commitment of the European Union to their European perspective. The exchange of views at such a high level reinforces the role of the EU in the region, which has always been characterised by instability and political upheavals. Now, ho

Mr President, arguably the change of presidency in the United States of America marked a new, much more positive start in Euro-Atlantic relations. After a period of systematic removal of America from emblematic international organizations and agreements, the election of President Biden gave a new impetus to American foreign policy, as was also shown during his visit to Brussels. However, since the

Mr President, the effects of climate change are now evident. Natural disasters, which have been increasing more and more in recent years, are irreparably affecting the natural lungs of oxygen, destroying citizens' property and infrastructure and causing incalculable effects on key productive sectors of our economy, such as agriculture and livestock, which are a key core of the economic activity of

Madam President, at this crucial juncture for the future of Europe, the role of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is crucial and I wish you success. It must coordinate the exploitation and disbursement of the Recovery Fund funds to the Member States, but also address the multi-layered challenges facing the European Union in key areas of foreign policy, including the pro