Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis attended today’s meeting of the EU General Affairs Council.
In his remarks, he welcomed the priorities of the Croatian Presidency, and in particular that of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, which follows on from the Thessaloniki Agenda of 2003. In this context, he referred to the Greek government’s initiative for convening a Conference on the Western Balkans on 24 February, in Thessaloniki, with the aim of promoting the dialogue and enhancing the European perspective of the Western Balkans.
With regard to the launching of the dialogue on the future of Europe, the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted that this debate must proceed at a fast pace and based on serious arguments that protect this dialogue from populist dilemmas, “without giving populists ground for disorienting this dialogue.” He recalled the similar institutional process for the EU Constitution, which foundered under the weight of national characteristics and populist arguments.
Subsequently, Mr. Varvitsiotis and his counterparts attended a working luncheon that focused on the negotiations on the new Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027.
January 28, 2020