Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis, upon arriving at the European Council in Brussels, emphasised that "the crisis in the Middle East and its consequences have already begun to affect the daily lives of European citizens, in terms of energy costs, the cost of everyday goods, and their sense of security." He also stressed that there is uncertainty and noted that the duration of the crisis, as well as the disruption, are the factors that "will shape both the scale and the nature of the European response." As he explained, the focus of his briefing to the leaders of EU member states is crisis management, and the ways to support households, businesses, and citizens are important factors, just as "equally important, and even more so, is strengthening the long-term foundations of our economies." The Eurogroup’s goal is to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, which requires removing barriers between EU member states, deepening the single market, mobilising idle savings toward productive investments, strengthening the international role of the euro, and bolstering the resilience of our economies. "The three essential ingredients are determination, a sense of purpose, and above all, speed," he stressed, adding that "this is no time for hesitation; it is time for decisions." Regarding energy measures, Pierrakakis stated that they are expected to be announced, noting that "there is a toolkit developed in 2022, and there is also a new toolkit being presented right now. There is a sense of urgency. The duration, as I mentioned, and the level of destabilisation will be decisive," he emphasised, noting the length of time the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed, a factor that will be "the key variable in terms of the best response to this crisis." He was also asked about the new, alarming developments following the attacks on energy infrastructure, including the largest field in Qatar, saying that "this is an extremely worrying situation, and we are examining all scenarios, both the best and the worst." Depending on how the crisis unfolds, it will become clear whether the responses will be purely national or more European in nature." Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr