Today, I participated in the videoconference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), during which my colleagues and I discussed topics of common regional interest.
I initially pointed to the need to enhance our cooperation on security issues and to promote democratic reforms and human rights in the context of the region’s European perspective.
We also talked about strengthening the region’s connectivity and responding jointly to the political and economic repercussions of the pandemic in our region, especially in sectors where our region performs weakly, such as food safety and security.
Regarding the economic challenges created by the pandemic, and in the spirit of the results of the 2nd Meeting of the ‘Thessaloniki 2020’ Forum, we had an in-depth discussion of the potential for regional coordination on issues of investments, competitiveness and mobility, in order to put our economies back on track for growth as soon as possible.
I also stressed that we need to work together to reverse the brain drain in the region, as this issue is directly linked to the region’s economic and social future.
Finally, I announced that Greece is prepared to take on the Chairmanship of the SEECP from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
June 25, 2020