Greece takes a clear position in favor of Western Balkan countries joining the European Union, subject to their respect for European norms and the rule of law. The Minister of Foreign Affairs told reporters Yorgos Gerapetritis. His statements were disseminated by the press service of the Greek Foreign Ministry, Day.Az reports with reference to TASS.
The minister noted that “he took part in two extremely important meetings on Monday – a conference in Berlin on the Western Balkans within the framework of the Berlin Process and a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, at which the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine was discussed.” “These two topics are connected,” said Gerapetritis. “At a time of two wars that threaten our region and global security, the European course of the Western Balkans is important in order to strengthen peace, prosperity in our region, to avoid nationalism and chart a course that will be compatible with EU policy.” According to the head of the department, Greece has clearly stated its position. “This position was spelled out 20 years ago, when at the EU summit in Thessaloniki in 2003, Greece was at the forefront of launching the process of integrating the Western Balkans into the European family. This must be done with full respect for European norms, with full respect for international law, with full respect principles of democracy and the rule of law,” Gerapetritis emphasized.
“And we will be the ones who will accelerate this process, necessarily while respecting the fundamental principles of the European Union, so that our region can have the peace and prosperity needed in these difficult times,” the Foreign Minister added.
On October 14, a conference was held in Berlin at the level of heads of state and government within the framework of the so-called Berlin Process. The Berlin Process, a mechanism to support the European integration of the Western Balkan states, was initiated in 2014 by Angela Merkel, who was then Chancellor of Germany. The process aims to support the EU integration of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and unrecognized Kosovo.
Greece believes that the authorities in Skopje are systematically violating the agreement concluded in 2018 to change the name of the country from Macedonia to North Macedonia and are demanding that the neighboring country implement it in full. According to Athens, such violations are an obstacle to the start of negotiations for the country’s accession to the EU. Athens also has grievances with the Albanian authorities, who, according to Greece, violate the rights of the Greek national minority, and there they also neglect the rule of law.
The European Union has separated the procedure for negotiations on North Macedonia’s membership in the EU from similar negotiations with Albania. The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU announced that the European Union will hold an intergovernmental conference with Albania on October 15, which will open the first stage of negotiations on the country’s accession to the European Union.