“Greece is fully prepared and determined to defend the European borders once again” in case events like the ones in Evros in 2020 are repeated with the instrumentalization of refugees and migrants, was the message sent by Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, upon arrival at the EU General Affairs Council, taking place in Brussels.
Furthermore, he made it known that on the occasion of the preparation of the European Council, which will take place in the framework of the General Affairs Council, Greece will once again raise the “actual security problems that our country faces due to Turkish provocative conduct, as well as the need for solidarity at all levels”. He also stressed the importance for our country, but also for the whole of Europe, of the issue of EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans.
The Alternate Minister’s full statement is as follows:
“In today's meeting we will discuss issues concerning the Rule of Law in the Union, the preparation of the European Council and the Enlargement of the Union in the Western Balkans.
In our view, the crucial region of the Western Balkans must definitely find the door to Europe open. This will contribute to stability in our neighborhood, but it will certainly prevent other powers from securing a pivotal role and presence in the Western Balkans, which are most important for our security and our economic well-being. It is important for us, in the context of the preparation of the European Council, to once again raise the actual security problems that our country is facing due to Turkish provocative conduct, as well as the need for solidarity at all levels.
At the same time, it should be pointed out that the instrumentalization of refugee and migrant flows, as is currently the case on the Lithuanian-Polish border, will not affect other regions of the EU, such as the South-Eastern Mediterranean. In the face of any such repetition of events of the past, such as those we experienced in Evros in 2020, Greece will be fully prepared and determined to once again defend the European borders. Our partners need to know this and express their support in advance”.
It is recalled that earlier this morning, before the start of the Council's proceedings, the Alternate Minister, together with his counterparts had participated in a working breakfast hosted by the Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution of Austria, Ms Karoline Edtstadler. The Prime Minister of Montenegro, Mr. Zdravko Krivokapic, had been invited as well. Talks focused on the enlargement of the European Union in the Western Balkans and the Stabilization and Association Process. Mr. Varvitsiotis conveyed to his counterparts, as well as to the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Greece’s firm support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans, which he described as an issue of security and regional stability.
November 23, 2021