Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis’ statements following his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Paulo Rangel (Athens, 03.11.2025)

It is a great pleasure to welcome to Athens my colleague and friend, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Paulo Rangel - a distinguished academic and a visionary European politician.

Greece and Portugal are bound by strong ties of friendship, founded on multiple levels.

As EU partners and NATO allies, we are guided by shared principles and values: respect for International Law, security of the peoples, and commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes.

As "geographical allies" of the European South, we face similar challenges and converge on many key issues concerning priorities of our foreign policy and security challenges of our wider region.

As nations with a long maritime tradition, we attach particular importance to maritime security, the safeguarding of the freedom of navigation and respect for the rules of the International Law of the Sea.

Over the past nearly four years, Europe has been confronted with crises that directly affect us.

Greece and Portugal share a common understanding of the wars and crises in our wider region - in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa. Within the framework of our coordinated action, we promptly submitted a proposal for joint European assistance to the Palestinian Authority, aimed at building resilient institutions necessary for the new governance in Gaza.

At the Foreign Affairs Council in October, for the first time in years, we received an encouraging piece of news: the achievement of a ceasefire in Gaza. We must all work to ensure its maintenance, as well as the massive provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian Palestinian population.

This already volatile situation is exacerbated by the increasing geopolitical instability worldwide. In this context, we seek a stronger role for the European Union. Greece and Portugal share a common vision on the crucial issue concerning Europe's future: the need to consolidate its strategic autonomy, which will render Europe a strong geopolitical union.

Honorable Minister,

During today's meeting, we explored ways to deepen our cooperation, particularly in the fields of trade, infrastructure and energy. We further agreed to strengthen our cooperation in the field of civil protection.

We also discussed the issue of migration - a matter that also concerns our meetings at the MED9 Forum. We look forward to the effective implementation of the Pact on Migration, as a tool for a common European solution to the European migration issue, based on solidarity and a fair burden-sharing among EU Member States.

At this point, I would particularly like to express Greece's appreciation to Portugal for its active support through FRONTEX in safeguarding the EU's external borders.

At the same time, we will continue working together to enhance our cooperation with third countries, with the aim of managing migratory flows and establishing legal pathways for migration.

We also agreed to further intensify our already excellent cooperation within international organizations, to address contemporary global challenges and promote international peace and multilateralism.

Greece is serving as a member of the UN Security Council, owing also to Portugal's support. We will fully support Portugal's candidacy for the Security Council for the 2027-2028 term, as a reaffirmation of the excellent relations between our two countries. We view Portugal as our natural successor immediately following the completion of our own term on the Security Council.

We also look forward to a closer cooperation within the framework of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), in which Greece participates as an Associate Observer.

Dear Paulo,

Our two countries share parallel historical experiences: the painful experience of totalitarianism and the restoration of democracy in the mid-1970s; the challenge of the financial crisis in the 2000s; our accession to the European family in the 1980s, as well as our accession to the Eurozone.

In a world confronted by multiple global challenges, Greece and Portugal remain steadfastly committed to the timeless human values, and continue to pursue synthesis, peace, and creativity.

I believe we are both deeply inspired by the words of the great Portuguese Nobel laureate José Saramago, in his emblematic work "A Caverna (The Cave)" - itself inspired by Plato's Republic, an ode to the free human spirit:

"Creating is always so much more stimulating than destroying".

With these thoughts, dear Paulo, I warmly welcome you once again to Athens and thank you for your sincere friendship and cooperation.

November 3, 2025