Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis participated today in the EU – Western Balkans video conference summit.
During his intervention, he stressed the need to keep the European perspective of the Western Balkans alive. He referred to Thessaloniki Declaration, which was the outcome of the EU – Western Balkans Conference of 2003, to recall that the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries began in Greece, and the country still supports it.
“That text written in Thessaloniki is still relevant today, after 17 years” stressed the Prime Minister, adding that “the Western Balkans’ European inclusion is Greece’s strategic choice”.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis invited the government of North Macedonia to respect its commitments arising from the Prespa Agreement. As he said, “good neighbourly relations are the only way to the European inclusion of North Macedonia”.
The Prime Minister acknowledged Albania’s progress. He stressed, however, that it is not adequate and that he expects the Albanian Government to take action to protect the Greek National Minority.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis particularly referred to the issue of refugees, asking Europe to fulfil its obligation. “Greece has been burdened with the issue of refugees the most. We did our duty, we expect others to do the same, as well”, he pointed out, asking the countries of the Western Balkans to cooperate in the subject of illegal migration.
