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Greece is urging the European Union to give member states greater flexibility to provide immediate relief from soaring energy costs, Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said Thursday at a meeting of EU energy ministers in Brussels.

Papastavrou called for targeted, temporary measures to reduce electricity bills for households and businesses, arguing that governments need room to respond quickly when energy crises place pressure on consumers.

“The position of Greece is clear,” he said. “We need the necessary flexibility within the framework of the escape clause to take targeted and temporary support measures now.”

The minister said the measures should deliver tangible savings for citizens rather than relying solely on long-term energy policy.

“Long-term energy planning is essential, but in times of crisis, such as now, it must be accompanied by immediate interventions that produce measurable results in energy bills,” he said.

Greece calls for flexibility in EU fiscal rules

The discussions among EU energy ministers covered preparations for energy security during the coming winter, electricity network charges and the bloc’s energy targets beyond 2030.

Papastavrou argued that greater flexibility under the EU’s escape clause would allow national governments to support households and businesses facing sharply rising energy costs.

He said temporary assistance was needed alongside longer-term energy planning to provide meaningful relief during periods of crisis.

Greece-Cyprus electricity link remains a priority

Papastavrou also said he would update his EU counterparts on progress and the next steps for the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), the planned electricity connection between Greece and Cyprus.

He described the project as one of strategic importance for the European Union and said it was advancing according to plan and with determination, in line with international law and the law of the sea.

The connection, he said, would end Cyprus’ energy isolation.

Papastavrou also called for a European energy union that includes all EU member states and delivers tangible benefits to citizens across the bloc.