Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou | Delphi Economic Forum 2023

 

Last week, I had the chance to take part in the 8th edition of the Delphi Economic Forum in the emblematic town of Delphi. Around this year's Delphi Economic Forum theme "Paradigm Shifts", inspiring discussions and fresh thinking on the state of the world were held for four days, with some of the most prominent personalities and experts in Politics, Business and Diplomacy. PANEL | Energy Platform: Critical Raw Materials - Battery Along with Maroš Šefčovič, European Commission Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations & Foresight, Kostas Skrekas, Greek Minister of Environment & Energy, Mary Bruce Warlick, Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Robbie Diamond, President & CEO of the US-based non-profit organization SAFE, and Christos Balaskas, Vice President & General Manager of Eldorado Gold, I participated in a discussion on the EU's newly proposed Critical Raw Materials Act. I noted that CRMs will be vital to delivering the green deal, providing jobs of the future, and securing ourselves in a world marked by increasing levels of coercion from countries like China. I also underlined the role that Greece can play thanks to industries like aluminium, and reaffirmed my determination to ensure that aluminium will be part of the CRM Act. I explained to the Forum participants that a secure supply of CRMs for the EU is vital to ensuring our future competitiveness, and ultimately ensuring that we are in command of our own security.

PANEL | Are the EU 27 Individually  and Collectively responding adequately to the multiple fundamental consequences of the War in Ukraine?

As the war in Ukraine grinds on, we discussed, with my esteemed co-panelists, Svitlana Kovalchuk, Executive Director of Yalta European Strategy, Vessela Tcherneva, Deputy Director and Head of Sofia office of the European Council on Foreign Relations and Janis Emmanouilidis, Director of Studies at the European Policy Center, the consequences of this unjust war and explored the ways to prepare the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. I reflected on the EU's and Greece's responses to the consequences of the war so far. Keeping an eye on the future, I called for the EU to prepare the foundations and building blocks of Ukraine's reconstruction now, so that the process can start as soon as it is viable.

PANEL | The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy

With George Katrougalos, former Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and Pavlos Christidis, Member of the Hellenic Parliament, we had a chance to reflect on the role of the members of the European Parliament and the national Parliaments of the Member States in external policy and how they are increasingly engaging in various ways with counterparts from third countries and other stakeholders. I briefly presented the nature of the European Parliament’s actorhood in international relations and the EP’s emerging role in EU foreign policy. I also underlined the crucial role we play in defending the values and the interests of our respective countries.

Revisit the Delphi Economic Forum VIII here

Rendez-vous in Delphi next year for the 9th edition of the Delphi Economic Forum!

Working together for our citizens and for the Europe we deserve!

Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou