Greece Seeks Expanded EU Energy Resilience Funding Amid Security Concerns

Greece has asked the European Commission to broaden the scope of its National Escape Clause to include measures aimed at strengthening the country's energy resilience, according to Economy and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis. The government expects additional investments enabled by this measure to exceed €1 billion by 2028.

The request follows a European Commission decision to broaden the existing National Escape Clause, originally introduced for defence-related spending, to also cover measures aimed at strengthening the resilience of Europe's energy system and accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels. The Greek government said the move is part of its strategy to boost the country's energy security within the European framework.

The planned investments will include renewable energy storage projects, energy efficiency measures, building upgrades, and infrastructure projects designed to improve Greece's energy resilience. Specific projects will be selected in cooperation with the relevant ministries in the coming period.