A strong message on the future of European security was delivered in Copenhagen by Tasos Chatzivasileiou, MP for Serres and Secretary for International Relations of New Democracy, who headed the Greek parliamentary delegation at the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on CFSP/CSDP.
The delegation also included MPs El. Ktistakis (ND), Mich. Katrinis (PASOK) and N. Kasimatis (SYRIZA).
Chatzivasileiou stressed that Europe must decisively advance its strategic autonomy, so that it can defend its values and safeguard its citizens without reliance on external powers. “It is time to send a collective message: we are ready to defend Europe’s common values ourselves,” he declared.
Referring to the new geopolitical reality, he highlighted the necessity of collective defense, pointing out that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was among the first European leaders to raise the issue of European strategic autonomy. “Today, Europe—though belatedly—is moving in the right direction,” he said.
He further emphasized that strengthening Europe’s defense industry and security framework must respect the national interests of all member states, with specific reference to Greece and Cyprus. “At the end of the day, we are a Union. Let us not forget that,” he underlined.
On EU–NATO cooperation, the Greek MP welcomed the deepening of their strategic partnership in tackling common security challenges, joint military exercises, the war in Ukraine, hybrid threats, and defense industry development. “Both organizations must continue to play complementary, coherent, and mutually reinforcing roles in the pursuit of peace and security,” he said, noting that this partnership could prove crucial in the security guarantees currently being considered for Ukraine.
Chatzivasileiou also reminded his European counterparts that, beyond Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the issue of Turkey’s illegal occupation of northern Cyprus since 1974 remains unresolved. “The territorial integrity of every state is a priority for Greece,” he stressed.
Concluding, he underscored the need to preserve the transatlantic relationship between Europe and the United States as the strongest strategic alliance of its kind—essential for stability and peace.
