Greece’s Minister for Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, is taking part in the EU Environment Council taking place in Luxembourg on Thursday, June 25, addressing key priorities ranging from the climate crisis and European competitiveness to preparations for the upcoming COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey.

Arriving at the meeting, Papastavrou underlined that ministers were discussing coordinated responses to the climate emergency, strengthening Europe’s economic competitiveness, and advancing preparations for COP31. He reaffirmed Greece’s full support for the statement by EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, which condemns efforts by Turkey to exclude Cyprus from informal preparatory processes ahead of the summit.

He emphasized that participation of all 27 EU member states is non-negotiable, stressing that “either all 27 are included, or none at all,” framing unity as a fundamental principle of the European position.

The Council will also focus on water resilience, a subject Papastavrou described as critical for Greece not in abstract terms, but as an issue directly tied to security, development, and the protection of local communities. He noted that earlier in the week Greece had launched a public consultation on its first National Water Strategy, and announced 10 new projects across nine islands, including desalination units and upgraded water supply networks.

Concluding his remarks, he stressed that water remains a foundation of life, social cohesion, and economic growth, adding that its protection is a shared responsibility toward both citizens and future generations.