BRUSSELS – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday said he was optimistic that EU energy ministers will reach a decision on the imposition of a cap on the wholesale price of natural gas when they meet next Monday, December 19.

Mitsotakis forecast that this will be a decision that accords with Greece’s goals and insisted that there was now a general understanding that the issue must be resolved by the end of this year and not postponed until some future date.

Asked about his upcoming speech on the 2023 budget in parliament on Saturday, Mitsotakis, after clarifying that he is fulfilling a pledge to fully complete the government’s four-year term, underlined that he will outline his vision for the next four years, insisting that citizens should know the plans of the parties.

Asked about “Qatargate”, the prime minister described it as “a very unpleasant affair with very serious charges”, while adding that he will avoid commenting. He went on to again attack opposition PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis, however, for attempting to link the arrested MEP Eva Kaili to New Democracy, stressing that “Eva Kaili is a member of PASOK and is not related to New Democracy”. In response to a question about the lifting of the immunity of ND MEP Maria Spyraki, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: “This is a very serious case. I don’t have the full picture right now. I will return to Athens, look into the matter and reply.”