Greece Wins EU Budget Flexibility

Greek Economy and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis hailed the EU’s approval of the national escape clause as a "strategic victory" for Greece and a sign of Europe’s institutional maturity. Speaking from Brussels after the Eurogroup and ECOFIN meetings, he noted that Greece, among the first to request the exemption, will gain €500 million in additional defence spending for 2026, CE Report quotes Athens-Macedonia

He emphasized that Greece defends the EU’s external borders and requires the necessary tools to do so, adding that sovereignty is built through concrete action, not slogans.

Pierrakakis also voiced strong support for the digital euro, urging timely agreement to enhance Europe’s monetary sovereignty. He highlighted digital payments as key in combating tax evasion and modernizing the economy.