FM: Greece playing significant role in western Balkans’ EU course

The European integration process of the western Balkans needs a new momentum, Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas pointed out in an interview in the newspaper Novosti.

“Greece has promoted certain initiatives toward this direction. Agenda 2014 is the most important considering that it has created a new momentum in the EU in favor of the European integration of the Western Balkan region,” he stressed.

Droutsas pointed out that the “first important step was made with the decision of the Council of Ministers to seek the European Commission’s opinion on Serbia’s request to acquire an EU accession candidate status.”

Droutsas also said “Greece jointly with Bulgaria have assumed the responsibility for the EU accession of the neighboring states,” and assured that both countries work intensively on the promotion of the idea and on the EU enlargement to include the western Balkan region.

In the interview, Droutsas reiterated that Greece’s position as regards Kosovo is unchanged. He also pointed out that the decisions of the Council of Ministers last December respect the fact that there are different positions among the EU states on the issue of Kosovo.