Αθήνα, 11 Οκτωβρίου 2025
Δελτίο Τύπου
Συμμετοχή του Χρήστου Σταϊκούρα στο Ελληνο-Βρετανικό Συμπόσιο 2025 στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο
Ο Βουλευτής Φθιώτιδας της Νέας Δημοκρατίας και Πρόεδρος της Κοινοβουλευτικής Ομάδας Φιλίας Ελλάδας – Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου, συμμετείχε, εκπροσωπώντας τη Βουλή των Ελλήνων, στο Ελληνο-Βρετανικό Συμπόσιο 2025 με θέμα «Ελλάδα και Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο: Συνοδοιπόροι σε εποχή αβεβαιότητας», που έλαβε χώρα στο Κέιμπριτζ του Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου από 9-11 Οκτωβρίου, όπου και απηύθυνε ομιλία κατά τη λήξη των εργασιών του.
Ο κ. Σταϊκούρας αναφέρθηκε στις βασικές θεματικές που αναπτύχθηκαν κατά τη διάρκεια των εργασιών, τονίζοντας τη σημασία της συνεργασίας και του διαλόγου ανάμεσα στις δύο χώρες σε μια εποχή διεθνούς αβεβαιότητας και ταχείας αλλαγής.
Ο κ. Σταϊκούρας επεσήμανε ότι ο κόσμος βρίσκεται αντιμέτωπος με πολυεπίπεδες προκλήσεις, από τις γεωπολιτικές συγκρούσεις και την ενεργειακή ανασφάλεια μέχρι την κλιματική κρίση και τις κοινωνικές ανισότητες.
Τόνισε ότι «η ειρήνη και η σταθερότητα στην Ευρώπη δεν είναι δεδομένες» και πως η αντιμετώπιση των σημερινών κρίσεων απαιτεί συντονισμένη ευρωπαϊκή και διεθνή δράση, πολιτικό θάρρος και όραμα.
Αναφέρθηκε στη σημασία της πράσινης μετάβασης, της ανθεκτικότητας στην κλιματική κρίση και της ενίσχυσης του μηχανισμού RescEU, καθώς και στην ανάγκη ισορροπίας ανάμεσα στην ανάπτυξη και τη δημοσιονομική σταθερότητα, μέσα σε ένα περιβάλλον υψηλού πληθωρισμού.
Στο πεδίο της άμυνας και ασφάλειας, υπογράμμισε τη σημασία της Στρατηγικής Πυξίδας για την Ασφάλεια και την Άμυνα της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και του χρηματοδοτικού εργαλείου SAFE για την ενίσχυση της ευρωπαϊκής αμυντικής βιομηχανίας και την επίτευξη στρατηγικής αυτονομίας.
Παράλληλα, αναφέρθηκε στο νέο Σύμφωνο Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου ως βήμα προς μια πιο συνεκτική και δίκαιη πολιτική.
Ειδική αναφορά έκανε και στην ανάγκη να κινηθεί η Ευρώπη με ταχύτερους ρυθμούς σε επενδύσεις, υποδομές και καινοτομία, προκειμένου να διατηρήσει την ανταγωνιστικότητά της, όπως έχει επισημάνει πρόσφατα και ο Μάριο Ντράγκι.
Ο κ. Σταϊκούρας τόνισε ότι η Ελλάδα αποτελεί σήμερα παράγοντα σταθερότητας και αξιόπιστο εταίρο στην ευρύτερη περιοχή.
Ανέδειξε την πρόοδο της ελληνικής οικονομίας, η οποία καταγράφει ανάπτυξη άνω του ευρωπαϊκού μέσου όρου, σταθερή μείωση της ανεργίας και αύξηση των επενδύσεων, ενώ συνεχίζει με συνέπεια τη μείωση του δημόσιου χρέους.
Παράλληλα, αναφέρθηκε εκτενώς στις ισχυρές σχέσεις Ελλάδας και Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου, οι οποίες έχουν βαθιές ρίζες στην ιστορία, αλλά παραμένουν ζωντανές και δημιουργικές στο παρόν.
Υπογράμμισε τη σημασία του Στρατηγικού Διμερούς Πλαισίου Ελλάδας – Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου (SBF) για την εμβάθυνση των οικονομικών και εμπορικών δεσμών, αλλά και τη δυναμική της κοινοβουλευτικής συνεργασίας, που μπορεί να λειτουργήσει ως γέφυρα επικοινωνίας και κατανόησης στην εποχή μετά το Brexit.
Κλείνοντας, ο κ. Σταϊκούρας υπογράμμισε ότι η Ελλάδα και το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο παραμένουν φίλοι και σύμμαχοι, ενωμένοι από κοινές αξίες και όραμα για το μέλλον.
«Το Ελληνοβρετανικό Συμπόσιο απέδειξε ότι ακόμη και μέσα σε εποχές αβεβαιότητας, μπορούμε να οικοδομήσουμε σχέσεις συνεργασίας, εμπιστοσύνης και προόδου», σημείωσε χαρακτηριστικά.
Ακολουθεί η τοποθέτηση του κ. Σταϊκούρα:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Dear Friends,
It is a great pleasure and a special honor to be here with you today, closing this important Hellenic-British Symposium.
As former Minister of Finance and of Infrastructure & Transport, Member of Parliament and President of the Hellenic–UK Parliamentary Friendship Group, I feelboth responsibility and emotion in sharing these final remarks.
For me, the relationship between Greece and the United Kingdom is not only institutional or political.
It is also deeply personal.
I had the privilege of studying in the UK, at postgraduate and doctoral level.
Then, I discovered the value of academic excellence, the power of innovation and the spirit of an open society.
Those experiences still accompany me today.
That is why Greek–British cooperation is not, in my eyes, a mere formal relationship – it is a livingexperience with a past, a present and a future.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We live in an era defined by complexity, successive crises and profound upheavals.
The war in Ukraine reminds us in the harshest way that peace in Europe cannot be taken granted.
Many people have been displaced, energy security has been shaken, food markets have been disrupted and Europe’s security architecture is under strain.
At the same time, the situation in the Middle East remains fragile.
Conflicts and geopolitical rivalries directly affectregional stability and are closely linked to migratory pressures towards Europe.
Globally, the relationship between the United States and China is shaping a new bipolar framework of power.
This competition extends far beyond geopolitics – into trade, technology and access to raw materials.
The consequences are already visible: supply chain realignments, rising protectionism, trade disputes.
The global economy also is under pressure.
Inflation and high interest rates weigh on households and businesses.
Social inequalities are widening.
Governments are called upon to strike a balance between supporting growth and safeguarding fiscal stability.
As if these were not enough, the climate crisis is here.
Heatwaves, wildfires, floods and extreme weather conditions spare no country.
Greece has felt this harshly.
Adaptation and resilience are no longer luxuries, they are matters of survival.
Finally, the technological revolution is reshaping our world.
Artificial intelligence, robotics and biosciences are creating immense opportunities, but also profound concerns:
▪ What will happen to employment?
▪ How can personal data be protected?
▪ Where do we draw ethical red lines in the use of innovation?
All these challenges are interconnected.
They demand international cooperation, political courage and a clear vision.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Europe is called upon to respond to this environment of uncertainty and change.
In recent years, significant steps have been taken, proving that the European Union can act decisivelywhen there is political will.
In energy, following the shock of the war in Ukraine, we saw initiatives for joint gas procurement, an acceleration of the green transition, investments in renewables and stronger interconnections between networks.
The aim is not only sustainable growth, but also energy autonomy and security.
In defense, the EU adopted the Strategic Compass for Security and Defense, set ambitious goals for cooperation in defense production and allowed for greater capacity in defense spending.
A key development is the new SAFE instrument, designed to strengthen Europe’s defense industry, promote joint investments and reduce dependence on third countries.
This is a substantial step towards achieving strategic autonomy.
In fiscal policy, the EU reformed its framework foreconomic governance, seeking balance between discipline and growth.
Long-term fiscal sustainability cannot exist without responsibility – but equally, it cannot exist without investment in the future.
In migration, the new Pact on Migration and Asylum is a difficult but necessary compromise, showing the will for a more coherent and fair policy.
Border protection and fair burden-sharing areprerequisites for Europe to face these challenges with realism and humanity.
In civil protection, the reinforcement of the RescEUmechanism is a clear recognition that climate-related disasters require a truly European response.
Dear Friends,
And yet, all this is not enough.
Recent reports warn that Europe lags in competitiveness compared to the United States and China.
As Mario Draghi recently underlined, the Union risksfalling behind, unless it moves faster in reforms, in infrastructure investment, in deepening the single market, in digital innovation.
His message was clear: Europe must act urgently and collectively, or else it risks being locked into a path of slow growth.
Nonetheless, Europe has made progress.
But it still needs more solidarity, more determination, more unity, more depth.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Within this context, Greece has an essential role to play.
And it plays it.
Our country is a pillar of stability in a wider region marked by tensions.
It is a country that combines its dedication to European identity with deep knowledge of regional particularities.
At the same time, Greece has achieved fiscal stability and strong economic performance.
The path from crisis to recovery was not easy.
Today, we can speak for a new reality:
▪ Growth rates above the European average.
▪ Steady declines in unemployment.
▪ Rising domestic and foreign investment.
▪ Upgrades in our credit rating by international agencies.
▪ A return to normal market access, under sustainable borrowing conditions.
Moreover, the consistent and continuous reduction of public debt is tangible proof of responsibility.
Greece delivers high primary surpluses and proceedswith early repayment of institutional debt and bilateral loans to its counterparts, thus lightening the burden on future generations.
It is clear that this progress must not be put at risk.
Growth must be rooted in productivity gains and structural reforms.
Stability must be safeguarded.
Our investments in energy, infrastructure and technology, our institutional stability and credibility – all make Greece a reliable partner.
In its long history, it has always played the role of frontline fighter and defender of western values.
Dear Friends,
In this environment, the relationship between Greece and the United Kingdom is of particular importance.
It is a relationship built on history with struggles for freedom and democracy, on culture, but above all, on people.
The Greek community in the UK is active, creative and a valuable ambassador of our country.
Thousands of Britons visit Greece every year and many choose to invest or to live permanently in our country,thanks to the attractive legal and tax framework legislated in 2020.
These bonds form the foundation on which we can build strategic partnerships:
▪ In economy, through investments, trade and support for innovation.
▪ In defense, through the exchange of expertise and cooperation within NATO.
▪ In energy, through joint projects that enhance security and accelerate the green transition.
▪ In education and research, through high-quality joint academic programs and research partnerships.
▪ In culture, through showcasing our shared heritage, resolving long–standing issues, like the Parthenon Sculptures, and promoting contemporary creativity.
In this light, we have supported the conclusion of the EU – UK security and defense partnership last May, allowing the UK military industry to access the SAFE instrument.
At this point, we emphasize the need to ensure that only like-minded third countries, whose foreign policy complies with the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy are allowed to access the funds of the SAFE instrument.
Moreover, the UK – Greece Strategic Bilateral Framework (SBF) contributes to deepening our economic and trade ties.
In this vein, we are looking forward to the 3rd SBF Annual Review, which is scheduled to take place in November this year.
This will be a real opportunity to further enhancebilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of agri-food industry, innovation and emerging digital technologies, clean energy, infrastructure and transport, green shipping, med-tech and bio-tech, as well as real estate, life sciences, defense, tourism and transnational education.
As President of the Hellenic–UK Parliamentary Friendship Group, I firmly believe that parliamentary bridges are invaluable.
Through the steady exchange of experiences, the understanding of each other’s priorities and the building of common ground, we can strengthen a partnership that is solid and enduring.
Our bilateral parliamentary relations, through friendship groups and other parliamentary committees, could befurther strengthened to contribute positively to our overall cooperation.
Following Brexit, interparliamentary cooperation has been limited, therefore, it is my belief that bilateral contacts could fill this gap through, for example, exchanging visits or holding virtual meetings.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This Symposium has demonstrated that, even in times of uncertainty, we can find paths of cooperation.
We had the chance to exchange views, ideas and concerns over the crucial challenges our world is facingand, surely, we all agree on the need for closer cooperation to better respond to them.
Greece and the United Kingdom are not merely partners.
We are friends and allies.
We share history, values and aspirations.
And this friendship, reinforced by new initiatives in the economy, defense, energy, education and culture, can serve as the foundation for a better future.
Let me close with a personal reflection: when I studiedin the UK, I learned that the strongest partnerships are built on respect and trust.
I believe that these are the values that will continue to guide the relationship between Greece and the United Kingdom in the years to come.
Thank you for your attention.
