Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker in Salzburg on Monday, where they examined the common interests that bind Greece and Austria, including tourism.
In a press conference after the meeting, Stocker praised the Greek prime minister over the fact that Greece had become “one of the most resilient economies in Europe”, noting that the country served as a “model of successful reform policies”.
“Greece has now managed to become one of the most resilient economies in Europe. Dear Kyriakos, I would like to warmly congratulate you on this achievement. To a very large extent, it is also your own achievement that Greece has managed to achieve this progress. Greece is now an important example of successful reform policy, which we urgently need throughout Europe, as well as in Austria,” Stocker said after the meeting, and he spoke at length about the shared interests of the two countries.
He said that tourism acts as a “stable bridge” uniting the two countries, noting that Greece is always one of the most popular destinations for Austrians, and referred to the prospects of cooperation for the sustainable development of the tourism product. He also stressed Greece’s central role in tackling illegal migration, adding that solidarity and support for its efforts is necessary. Stocker also referred to the need to maintain the prospects of the Western Balkans for accession to the European Union.
The Greek premier, on his part, agreed that “relations between our two countries remain excellent,” and that his is best reflected in tourism. “Greece consistently ranks very high among Austrians’ holiday preferences, while Austria is also a popular destination for Greek travellers,” said Mitsotakis said.
He said that mountain tourism is a major priority for Greece and noted that Mount Olympus has been voted a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Mitsotakis spoke about the high cost of energy and said that the issue remains a top priority. “ We cannot talk about a competitive Europe when households and businesses are paying high energy costs,” he said, stressing that it is unfair for countries such as Austria and Greece – which have invested in renewable energy sources – to be burdened.
“ Greece has taken significant steps so that, from being a natural gas importer, it has become central to countries supplying natural gas to Southeastern Europe. Energy security is also geopolitical security. The same applies to defence. Europe must strengthen its defence, and it must not hesitate to activate the mutual assistance clause if necessary,” he emphasised.
The prime minister said that they also discussed the possibility of joint production within the framework of SAFE as well as migration.
“ Together we succeeded in having the protection of the EU’s external borders recognised as a shared responsibility, and this shift was reflected in the new Pact on Migration and Asylum,” Mitsotakis said.
“ We have made significant progress. We can do more and better. I recognise the important work Austria has done in this area, just as we have done by significantly reducing arrivals. We need a more effective returns system, legal migration channels, and together with Austria we are ready to discuss solutions for returning those who are not entitled to asylum in the EU. We must send them the message that if they reach Europe, they will return to their countries of origin – and this must be a European message,” he added.
Regarding EU enlargement, Mitsotakis said that Greece remains a strong supporter of the European perspective of the Western Balkans. He noted that the process is not uniform and referred to the non-negotiable requirements for each country without exceptions.
On the new crisis in the Persian Gulf, he said that both sides expressed the hope that further escalation can be avoided. “ For Greece, as a country whose identity is closely linked to shipping, ensuring freedom of navigation is of vital importance. There can be no fees or tariffs,” he stressed.
Mitsotakis congratulated Austria on its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. “ We are two countries that defend international legality and the rules of international law,” he added.
The Greek prime minister also spoke warmly about the Salzburg Festival and invited the Austrian Chancellor to visit Greece.
In response to a question, Mitsotakis said that the existence of a new European Pact on Migration and Asylum is a major European achievement, and that the final remaining element was the regulation on returns, which must now be implemented.
“ We have made progress; migration flows have decreased significantly. We must not remain trapped in the logic of previous years. We can do better. We must send a clear message that if you know you are not entitled to asylum in Europe and you come only for economic reasons, Europe will do everything it can to send you back. At the same time, as Europe, we must open legal migration pathways in an organised and safe manner. This balance between a strict policy of protecting Europe’s borders, emphasis on returns, and the need for legal migration is the right balance. Greece and Austria are practically aligned in the way they manage this issue,” he said.
Asked about the new Middle East crisis and whether there would be new support measures for citizens and businesses, Mitsotakis said:
“ During 2026, Greece has spent around 800 million euros on additional support measures as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. I would like to thank the Chancellor for his very positive comments about the course of the Greek economy. It is significant to hear this from countries that were strict with Greece during a difficult period. But Greece has now proven that it can be an example of fiscal discipline. We are a country producing primary surpluses, reducing our debt at one of the fastest rates, and we have the ability to maintain some limited fiscal space to support society during exceptional crises.
“ We have announced an emergency diesel subsidy of 10 cents per litre for August, regardless of developments. In any case, I hope we will not need to find ourselves at the European Council discussing emergency support measures for European societies and businesses if things once again get out of control. Let us remain cautiously optimistic. We all faced inflation higher than we expected. This is not only a Greek problem; it is also an Austrian, French, and Spanish problem because fuel prices rose sharply. We must understand that there are no easy or magical solutions. Greece, within its capabilities, will continue to support society, with emphasis on the most vulnerable,” he stressed.
Regarding the workers needed by both countries in the tourism sector, Mitsotakis said that Greece and Austria are European tourism superpowers.
“ We have managed to convince our societies that tourism brings more benefits than costs. Tourism creates wealth and benefits for the entire country. During my visits to Austria, I often meet Greeks who work there in winter. The reverse could happen with Austrians working in Greece during the summer. We may be able to do more. The direction we have given to both ministers is to explore further cooperation in the tourism sector,” the prime minister added.
Regarding the wildfires in Spain and France and whether the European mechanism can respond and be further strengthened, Mitsotakis first expressed Greece’s solidarity with the two countries affected.
“ When we reach this level of intensity and temperature, it becomes very difficult to deal with these fires. Greece is assisting with two Canadair firefighting aircraft in Madrid. The unified European mechanism has worked. It is a very good example of European solidarity and the effective allocation of resources among European countries.
“ Austrian firefighters come to Greece every summer. Austria has a completely different system for organising firefighting and civil protection compared with ours. It is impressive because it relies to a very large extent on volunteer organisations at the municipal and community level. This is also a model for us regarding how we can mobilise more volunteers. This year, we have more than 5,000 organised volunteers participating in the protection of our forests.
“ We are already cooperating with Austria, and this cooperation is useful. More resources will be needed in the next multiannual financial framework for climate adaptation policies. Of course, we want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but we cannot believe we can deal with this phenomenon alone. Our societies are suffering. Adaptation measures must be included in the next budget because each country will face its own challenges.
Climate adaptation also concerns our tourism sector. A holistic strategy is required. Austria has always been willing to help us,” Mitsotakis concluded.
Stocker: Greece an example of successful reform policy
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker highlighted Greece’s “impressive economic progress” and the two countries’ shared interests in sustainable tourism and tackling irregular migration following his meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Salzburg on Monday.
“I would like to refer to Greece’s impressive economic progress in recent years. Thanks to steady growth and the consistent reduction of public debt, Greece has succeeded in becoming one of Europe’s most resilient economies. Dear Kyriakos, I would like to warmly congratulate you on this achievement. To a great extent, this progress is also due to your contribution. Greece has now become an important example of successful reform policy, which is something we need across Europe and in Austria as well,” Stocker said.
He added that anyone seeking to strengthen Europe’s ability to act effectively must support industry, boost technology and innovation, and deepen the European single market.
The Chancellor said he and the Prime Minister agreed that competitiveness is the key prerequisite for Europe to remain strong and effective. He noted that both Austria and Greece are heavily affected by high energy prices and argued that reforms to the design of the European energy market should be considered. According to Stocker, the low production costs of renewable energy should be reflected in lower prices for households and businesses, while European climate policy must not undermine the competitiveness of industry.
Speaking from Salzburg, one of Austria’s leading tourist destinations, Stocker described tourism as a lasting bridge between the two countries. More than 900,000 Austrians visit Greece each year, while the number of Greek visitors to Austria continues to grow. He said both governments aim to extend the tourism season and create attractive opportunities for both visitors and local communities.
Referring to the Salzburg Festival, the Chancellor described it as one of the world’s leading cultural events and a powerful driver of economic growth. He noted that it generates almost 250 million euros in added value for the Austrian economy each year, including nearly 200 million euros for the Salzburg region, while supporting around 3,000 jobs. He said the festival demonstrates how major cultural events can strengthen both a country’s international profile and its regional economy.
Stocker added that Greece and Austria had reaffirmed their intention to deepen cooperation as two leading tourism destinations. Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and Austria’s State Secretary for Tourism Elisabeth Zehetner also took part in the discussions, which focused on tourism cooperation, workforce training, addressing labour shortages, the functioning of the European labour market, sustainable tourism development and enhancing the competitiveness of both countries’ tourism sectors.
The Chancellor also identified irregular migration as a key issue for both Austria and Greece, praising the two countries’ decisive contribution to what he described as a substantial shift in the European Union’s migration policy.
He said Austria had recorded more returns and removals of foreign nationals than new asylum applications during the first half of 2026, attributing the development to national measures such as the suspension of family reunification and border controls. At the same time, he stressed that stronger protection of the EU’s external borders had also proved effective, highlighting Greece’s central role in this effort. “The protection of the external borders is not a national matter but a shared European responsibility,” Stocker said, adding that Greece could count on Austria’s full support and solidarity. He noted that 15 Austrian Frontex officers are currently serving at Greece’s external borders.Stocker also voiced support for establishing Return Hubs, where rejected asylum seekers would remain until being returned to their countries of origin. He said Austria and Greece, together with other European partners, aim to see the first such centres become operational in 2027, during Greece’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The two leaders additionally discussed EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. The Austrian Chancellor welcomed the encouraging progress made by Montenegro, describing it as a model candidate country and expressing confidence that accession negotiations would continue advancing. He stressed, however, that the remaining Western Balkan countries should not be overlooked, arguing that Serbia’s EU accession process should also move forward, including the opening of Cluster 3, as the necessary conditions have already been met. According to Stocker, such a step would strengthen pro-European forces within Serbia.
Source: ANA-MPA
