Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on Europe to build greater strategic autonomy during a speech Thursday at an award ceremony in Aachen honoring former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi with the prestigious Charlemagne Prize.
Mitsotakis said Europe must reduce dependence on external powers for critical technologies, defense, energy and industrial supply chains, describing strategic autonomy as “an act of responsibility, self-respect and long-term resilience.”
Referring to Draghi’s legacy, the Greek premier praised his leadership during moments of crisis, highlighting his role in stabilizing the eurozone during the sovereign debt crisis. He described Draghi as a public servant defined by seriousness, institutional dedication and the courage to act decisively when Europe faced uncertainty.
Mitsotakis recalled Draghi’s landmark 2012 pledge that the ECB would do “whatever it takes” to preserve the euro, a statement widely credited with restoring market confidence at the height of the eurozone crisis.
“No country suffered more than Greece during the Eurozone crisis,” Mitsotakis said, thanking Draghi for believing in Greece’s resilience and acknowledging the support of former European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker during the country’s financial crisis.
