Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with European Commissioner for Climate Action, Carbon Neutrality, and Clean Development, Wopke Hoekstra, at the Maximos Mansion on Tuesday, May 27. Energy issues and Greece’s pivotal role in the European energy transition were at the top of the agenda.
“We cover a significant portion of our energy needs through renewable sources,” the Greek Prime Minister emphasized during the meeting with Commissioner Hoekstra, who in turn praised the Greek government’s efforts, stating, “What you have achieved with the economy is impressive, especially the way you’ve linked it to green growth and climate policy.”
“You have a broad portfolio and many topics to address,” Hoekstra added. “I understand you’ve already had productive discussions with the relevant ministers, but it’s always a pleasure to meet with you. I was thinking recently—on days when the sun shines and the wind blows, yet energy consumption hasn’t peaked as it does in summer—we’re still producing a significant share of our energy. You’re indeed covering a large part of it through renewables.”
The exchange highlighted Greece’s ongoing transition to sustainable energy sources and the alignment of its economic recovery with environmental objectives, positioning the country as a proactive player in Europe’s green agenda.
The Commissioner’s visit to Greece began Monday with a series of field inspections alongside Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou. Their first stop was Mt. Hymettus, where Hoekstra was briefed on wildfire prevention efforts under the “AntiNERO” program.
This initiative, part of Greece’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, is a bold strategy aimed at shielding Mediterranean ecosystems from the escalating threats of climate change, with funding from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
Later, Hoekstra and Papastavrou visited the Koumoundourou High Voltage Center in Aspropyrgos. The facility, fully refurbished by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO), is co-financed through “Greece 2.0,” the national component of the EU’s NextGenerationEU fund.
Following these visits, Commissioner Hoekstra announced a significant EU-wide fire preparedness initiative for the upcoming summer season. The European Union will deploy a total of 22 firefighting aircraft and 650 firefighters from 14 member states to southern Europe.
Strategic deployments will be made in France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain. Greece will receive four medium amphibious firefighting aircraft, while 19 EU ground firefighting teams—each comprising about 30 firefighters—and an expert task force will be ready to assist local efforts as needed.
Additionally, a dedicated wildfire support team will be established at the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), operating year-round to monitor risks and provide scientific analysis.
Wrapping up his visit to the Aspropyrgos power station, Commissioner Hoekstra praised Greek leadership:
“Here, we have a window into the future—into innovation. I can only commend the Prime Minister and the Minister for the truly exceptional work being done.”
