Athens:Lithuania's upcoming presidency of the European Union will focus on enhancing Europe's security and competitiveness amidst increasing uncertainty, President Gitanas Nauseda announced during his visit to Greece.

According to Anadolu Agency, President Nauseda met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens, where they addressed reporters following their discussions. A significant topic of their talks was Lithuania's presidency of the Council of the EU during the first half of 2027.

Nauseda emphasized the importance of strengthening Europe in response to security challenges and uncertainty. He stated that the Lithuanian presidency would aim to make Europe more secure and competitive.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis highlighted the joint program of the EU presidency trio, which includes Ireland, Lithuania, and Greece. He affirmed that the three nations are committed to a free, democratic, strong, secure, prosperous, and competitive Europe.

Mitsotakis stressed the shared responsibility of defending the sovereignty and rights of EU and NATO members, notably those on the front line like Lithuania and Greece. He expressed Greece's solidarity with Lithuania over hybrid attacks and called for a coordinated European response.

The Greek leader also suggested advancing joint European technologies to counter drones and emphasized the need for cost-effective methods to safeguard European airspace.

On migration, Mitsotakis underscored the duty of EU border countries to protect their borders while maintaining values and applying the bloc's Pact on Migration and Asylum. He also discussed the EU's next long-term budget, criticizing the initial resource proposals as insufficient and arguing that cohesion is essential for competitiveness.

Additionally, Mitsotakis reiterated support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, one that respects its sovereignty and territorial integrity and includes credible security guarantees.