European Council President António Costa identified security and competitiveness as priorities for the European Union during his visit to Greece on Monday, September 15. Later on the same day, at a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, he stressed the need to pay more attention to the Mediterranean and Middle East.
During his meeting in Athens with top Greek politicians, Council President Costa repeatedly emphasized that competitiveness and security are two sides of the same coin. “We can not provide confidence to investors and boost our economy without security. It is very difficult to sustain what we need to invest in security and defence without a stronger economy,” Mr Costa said.
Migration control as part of EU’s security
Mr. Costa devoted part of his speech in Greece to the need for better control of illegal migration into the European Union. It was Greece that has struggled repeatedly in recent years with waves of refugees arriving on Greek islands, mainly from the Middle East.
In order to face illegal migration and fight human trafficking, border management must be improved. — António Costa, European Council President
“We need to improve our border management to face illegal migration, to fight smugglers of human beings, and we need to have a strong European political migration policy,” Council President underlined.
Greece’s PM: Distance from Turkey essential
Mr Costa’s visit to Greece, however, also reflected some historical grievances that are still felt in the Balkan country today. These mainly concern relations between Greece and Turkey—two countries that share NATO membership but have historically had very poor, often openly hostile, relations.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis insisted that Turkey (not an EU member) should be left out of Europe’s defence. Mr Mitsotakis reaffirmed its opposition to Turkey’s participation in the EU defence scheme Security Action for Europe (SAFE).
Greece’s PM said that “third countries which threaten EU members with war” can not participate in SAFE. That was a reference to the Turkish Parliament’s resolution from 1995, warning Greece against unilateral actions in the Aegean Sea.
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Cyprus assuming presidency in critical times
Later that day, Mr Costa traveled to Cyprus. This Mediterranean country, located on the southeastern edge of the EU, will take over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU from Denmark on January 1, 2026.
Climate change is not a fantasy, but unfortunately a reality already impacting our lives. — António Costa, European Council President
Following the meeting with President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, Mr Costa praised the decision to install in Cyprus a new EU-wide firefighter hub intended to better protect the Union from the risk of wildfires. “This is also a reminder that climate change is not a fantasy, but unfortunately it is a reality which is already impacting our lives,” said Mr Costa in connection with the wildfires that once again broke records during the summer of 2025.
While in Cyprus, President Costa stressed the geostrategic position of the island which is very important for the Union as a whole. “Your Presidency comes in a critical moment,” Mr Costa said adding that he expects Cyprus would focus on Mediterranean and Middle East affairs during the upcoming Presidency.
