Nuclear Energy, the EU Green Deal, and Energy Security discussed on the second day of the “Energy Transition Summit”
With the participation of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and ministers from Ukraine, Hungary, the UK, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece, the summit co-organized by the Financial Times and Kathimerini concluded successfully.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 18, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke at the “Financial Times & Kathimerini Energy Transition Summit: East Med & South East Europe”. “Greece can become a nuclear energy country,” the Prime Minister stated during his discussion with Emiliya Mychasuk, Energy Editor at the Financial Times. “I see no reason why we should aim for climate neutrality without nuclear energy. I want us to be part of the conversation on nuclear technology. I’m not saying we will pursue this tomorrow, but I have already told our European partners that we need to place a strategic bet—and investments in nuclear technology are part of that conversation”. Regarding the EU Green Deal, he emphasized the need for regulatory adjustments: “We must avoid putting European businesses at a disadvantage. I believe we are moving in the right direction. I want us to be ambitious, but also realistic”.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Mykola Kolisnyk, responded to a question by Kathimerini columnist and Director of Research at the Institute of International Relations, Konstantinos Filis:
“How can the energy sector become a strategic pillar of Europe’s energy security?”
He answered: “Ukraine has indeed become a strategic player on a regional level—primarily because of our developed infrastructure and natural gas market. We also have strong capacity in solar energy. In 2022, we began a modernization process, which will yield results in the future. Just as we began, Russia’s invasion started. Today, we remain a sustainable and reliable partner for the EU. We are using our network and increasing our capacity to near pre-war levels”.
Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó, addressed his country’s pressures, challenges, and priorities during the energy transition. He stressed that “Russia remains Hungary’s most reliable energy supplier, and we are not prepared to sacrifice our energy security for political motives”.
He clarified that Hungary treats energy as a strictly physical issue, influenced by geography and infrastructure. “This approach guides our government’s decisions, regardless of political or ideological pressures,” he said. He also emphasized the priority of ensuring energy security and keeping household energy prices low. To achieve this, Hungary will continue to invest in nuclear energy and pursue energy source diversification when it is economically viable and realistic. He also noted that despite difficult conditions, Hungary continues to supply electricity to Ukraine, contributing to the region’s energy security.
Greek Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, noted that for the first time, the EU Energy Council’s conclusions recognized a persistent electricity price gap between Northern and Southern Europe—and that for the first time, an entity will try to address it. “Sometimes we have negative prices in the North and explosive prices in the South. This is an energy curtain— a division on the map. This cannot continue—not only because it affects households, the internal market, and the competitiveness of the Greek and regional economies, but because it delegitimizes the EU’s plan and gives rise to populist voices that highlight its inability to act”, he stated.
Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, spoke about adaptability to new conditions and change. He emphasized that after 80 years of war in the region, “we now live in an environment defined by uncertainty and instability”. However, he added: “Considering that 90% of global trade is done by sea, and Greek shipowners control 20% of the global fleet—one in three tankers is Greek, making up 60% of the European fleet—we hold a significant advantage”. Nonetheless, he stressed that countries like China and the U.S. are accelerating in development and competitiveness, unlike Greece. Therefore, the European Commission must recognize that this fleet is a major European asset and must be protected.
The “Energy Transition Summit: East Med & South East Europe”, co-hosted by the Financial Times and Kathimerini, concluded with the announcement that it will return for a second edition on May 27–28, 2026.