"Europe must acquire both a role and a voice. And this means a common foreign and defence policy," main opposition PASOK-Movement for Change leader Nikos Androulakis said on Thursday in the pre-conference of the leaders of the European Socialist Party.

Androulakis stated that, many times, "in discussing Russian aggression, we forget the undermining role of Turkiye in the southeastern Mediterranean. All peoples, in solidarity, must live in an environment of security."

The leader of PASOK-Movement for Change commented on the decisions of the NATO Summit in The Hague and described the decision to increase military spending to 5% without any plan as arbitrary. "The messages of Rutte, NATO Secretary General, to Trump, are insulting for Europe, proving that the decision was made only to satisfy the US President," he stressed, while noting that "any increase in defence spending - and this is a red line for us - should not be at the expense of spending on the European welfare state."

"We consider it unacceptable that private Turkish companies can utilise the SAFE program. And this is the responsibility of the New Democracy government. Likewise, it is responsible for the unpleasant events in relation to Libya and the EEZ, as well as the developments regarding St. Catherine of Sinai in relation to Egypt," the PASOK leader added.

"Unfortunately, the government tends to treat major national issues through the lens of communication strategy and with a degree of amateurism," Androulakis noted and concluded: "PASOK has highlighted these issues and today's public confrontations between New Democracy ministers absolutely confirm this."