The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is traveling to Brussels to participate in the EU-Western Balkans Summit taking place on Wednesday and the European Council Meeting conducted on Thursday, Dec. 18-19. The Council’s agenda will include critical issues amid developments in the Middle East, as well as the ongoing Ukraine-Russian war.
Regarding the Western Balkans, government sources reveal that Mitsotakis is anticipated to express Greece’s strong support for the EU enlargement process and the European aspirations of the Western Balkans, highlighting it as a strategic investment in peace, stability, and security for the region.
The Greek government, of course, maintains its consistent position that candidate countries must meet the required criteria and implement necessary reforms, with officials emphasizing that the accession process will depend on the performance and commitments of the candidate countries.
With regards to Serbia, in particular, Mitsotakis is expected to emphasize the country’s European trajectory and the need to send a positive signal toward its EU accession. Serbia has recently demonstrated its commitment to its European integration goals; however, no new accession chapters have been opened for Serbia.
The prime minister is anticipated to stress Serbia’s pivotal role in regional stability and warn that undermining its European prospects could open the door for parties outside the EU to influence Serbia negatively, affecting the region’s overall stability. Mitsotakis is also expected to argue in favor of Serbia’s alignment with Europe, saying that it is a geopolitical necessity, one that will strengthen stability across the Western Balkans.
As for Ukraine, the prime minister will reiterate the importance of extending support to the country so it will not be left in a disadvantageous position when peace talks with Russia eventually commence.
Regarding the recent developments in Syria, Mitsotakis will reaffirm Greece’s support towards the country’s unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, along with an inclusive future that protects all religious and ethnic minorities.
He is further expected to stress that the EU cannot remain absent from developments in the Middle East and Syria’s future, especially given security risks and potential increases in refugee flows.
Finally, the prime minister will brief EU leaders on his recent visit to Lebanon, as he was the first European leader to visit the country following the Nov. 26 ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Sources report that he will stress the need for the EU to support Lebanon’s state institutions and ensure the effective implementation of the ceasefire.
