Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Rome for the latest session of the Greece–Italy High Cooperation Council, where they reaffirmed their commitment to closer bilateral ties across a wide range of issues, from migration and defence to energy and economic cooperation.
Speaking after the meeting, Mitsotakis described it as “not a formal diplomatic meeting but an essential opportunity to coordinate our steps with passion on all issues from regional developments to migration.”
Mitsotakis underlined the deep political, historical, and economic bonds between the two countries and called for more frequent gatherings of the Council.
A key outcome of the meeting was a joint statement committing both countries to enhanced strategic collaboration.
“We want to triple the cooperation between our two countries in the electric interconnection,” Mitsotakis said, highlighting energy security as a shared priority.
Another major development was the signing of a new agreement with Italy’s state railway company, marking a restart of a relationship that had been tested in the wake of the Tempi tragedy. Under the deal, Greece will invest over €400 million in rail network upgrades and safety systems, while Italy will provide €360 million for new trains and maintenance facilities.
The two leaders also discussed broader economic ties and bilateral trade, as well as regional developments in Libya and Syria.
On migration, Mitsotakis stressed a shift in focus: “We are no longer focusing on the internal redistribution of refugees; instead, we are prioritising the protection of our borders, combating smuggling rings, enhancing return policies, and reorganising our approach to receiving legal migrants.”
On Ukraine, Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s support for peace, stating: “We support an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.”
He also spoke of the need to bolster European defence and deepen defence cooperation between Greece and Italy.
“We share the view that our cooperation with the US is necessary and essential to reach a mutually beneficial trade agreement. We must avoid a trade war; we must make every effort to keep the West united against the challenges we face,” he added.
Source: amna.gr
