Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapatritis reiterated the country’s support for the admission of the western Balkan nations in the EU during the Berlin Process Summit for the Western Balkans in the German capital on Monday evening.
In his statements, Gerapetritis linked the issue of the Western Balkans with the two wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, which were on the agenda of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. He noted that “amid two wars that threaten our region and global security, the European integration of the Western Balkans is crucial for establishing peace and prosperity in our region, avoiding nationalism, and charting a path that aligns with Europe.”
Regarding the Thessaloniki Agenda, he repeated that Greece “has already made its position clear. This position was set twenty years ago, when with the Thessaloniki Agenda of 2003, Greece was a pioneer in the inclusion of the Western Balkans in the European family. This must happen with full respect for the EU acquis, international law, and the principles of democracy and the rule of law.”
The Greek Foreign Minister emphasized the area of connectivity, focusing on energy and transportation. According to sources speaking to in.gr, he highlighted Greece’s interest in creating a unified regional energy market, describing it as essential for the economic prosperity of the Western Balkans, with Greece aiming to become a strong exporter of clean energy.
The foreign minister said that Greece currently generated roughly 50% of its electricity from renewable energy sources and aims to play a key role in cross-border electricity trade in the Western Balkans.
Greece has expressed its desire to upgrade its electricity interconnection with North Macedonia and to implement the interconnection with Albania.
