I warmly welcome the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg and good friend, Mr. Asselborn, to Athens.
It is a great pleasure to welcome you today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are honoured by your presence on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and Luxembourg.
Minister Asselborn is an emblematic figure of European diplomacy, a genuine Europeanist, the longest-serving Foreign Minister in the European Union with 19 years of service and a great friend of Greece.
Minister, thank you very much. Luxembourg's modern history is inextricably linked with that of the EU.
Being one of the founding members of the EEC and the birthplace of Robert Schuman, one of the visionaries behind European unification, Luxembourg lies at the heart of Europe.
Nowadays, both the Union and each individual Member State face new challenges.
Minister, Greece has recently suffered an inconceivable tragedy. This summer, we were struck by the effects of the climate crisis, first by wildfires and then by floods.
However, Europe stands by our side once again and I would like to take this opportunity to thank both the European Union and all member states for the assistance they provided in addressing the natural disasters caused by the climate crisis.
Such phenomena will become more common in the future. According to the scientific community, no one is entirely safe from the climate crisis anymore.
That is why we need to work both at the European level and through multilateral diplomacy to enhance civil protection mechanisms and combat the causes that generate and exacerbate the climate crisis.
Greece, as a Mediterranean country particularly exposed to climate change, places climate crisis and security at the top of its agenda. For this reason, climate change constitutes one of the six main priorities of its candidacy to the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term.
I seize this opportunity, Minister, to thank you from the bottom of my heart for Luxembourg’s support for our candidacy.
As members of the EU and NATO, we share common perceptions and values with Luxembourg. Our viewpoints on the future of Europe converge on various issues. We definitely need a “greener” Europe.
As an energy hub in Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece can make an important contribution to the EU's energy diversification and autonomy.
We also discussed another common challenge in the EU: migration. Greece, Minister, due to its geographical position, is at the forefront and bears a disproportionate burden.
There should be a European strategy on migration issues, which will distribute the burdens equally and fairly among the Member States according to the principle of solidarity.
Furthermore, we discussed one of the major issues concerning the Union’s future, namely its strategic autonomy. It is in our best interest to become more competitive globally, and not just in our small region, as well as capable of countering emerging protectionist trends.
Greece, just like Luxembourg, believes in the Union’s vision of consolidating lasting peace on a continent that lived through the tragedy of war for centuries. War has returned to our continent. Russia's invasion of Ukraine constitutes a revisionist act and a flagrant violation of International Law.
We hope for a swift end to the armed conflict caused by the illegal invasion and the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity in its entirety.
We support Ukraine in various ways. We are looking into how we could significantly contribute to addressing the food crisis, which has been exacerbated by Russia's decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Another significant stake within Europe, which will undoubtedly contribute to consolidating stability both in Europe and our region, is the European Union's enlargement. We both support the European perspective of the Western Balkans, provided, of course, that the required milestones and conditions set by the European Council are met.
We also discussed expanding our bilateral cooperation. We can substantially expand the relations between our two countries, particularly in the fields of economy and trade.
In addition, I would like to emphasize the great interest on the part of the citizens of Luxembourg in the Greek language, history and culture.
Certainly, with the first ambassador being the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Mr. Xavier Bettel.
Minister, dear Jean, welcome to Greece.
JOURNALIST: My question is for both Ministers. Firstly, I would like to ask for your comment on the issue of the EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, even though the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg has already stated his position.
In particular, I would like to hear your opinion on the Beleri case.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Twenty years have passed since Thessaloniki. In 2003, Greece, as the leading country, ensured that it was emphasized on a European scale that the natural place for the Western Balkans is within the European Union.
Their integration into the EU is an indispensable condition for security and prosperity in this historically troubled region.
Twenty years later, we reiterate the same fundamental position that we have consistently supported throughout these years. As you are aware, the Prime Minister of Greece convened a Summit in Athens a few weeks ago. The leaders of the Western Balkans, as well as Ukraine and Moldova, sat at the same table to discuss, on the twentieth anniversary, the steps that must be taken for the progress of the Western Balkans’ accession.
Each country has its own unique characteristics and we should respect them, just as we should respect the terms and conditions set out by the EU institutions, and in particular the European Council. Like my honourable colleague, I include respect for democracy and the Rule of Law among them.
I had the opportunity today to discuss with the Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia the issues related to the enlargement of the Western Balkans and of the neighbouring country, in particular. We identified the issues that arise and I conveyed our country's fundamental position that in principle we seek and encourage the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the European family.
However, respect for the Rule of Law also requires an attitude that should be demonstrated not only within the institutions but in everyday practice as well.
I believe that the case you mentioned, the case of the elected Mayor of Himare, Fredi Beleri, is a deviation from the European acquis. It is a deviation insofar as an elected mayor, an elected official of the local government, has not been able to assume his duties, because he has not been allowed to be sworn in and assume office. This could and should have been done through an administrative act authorized by political will.
This, according to our country and according to International Law, is a clear violation of Mr. Beleri's political rights, a violation of the presumption of innocence and the rule of law.
So yes, we strongly support the accession of the Western Balkan countries in principle. However, respect for the principles of the European Union, which are largely universal and pertain to democracy and the rule of law, must be demonstrated.
JOURNALIST: I have a question for both Ministers. There has been an increase in migration flows recently. What steps do you believe should be undertaken at the European Union level?
G. GERAPETRITIS: The Minister, Mr Asselborn, has set the framework. I believe nothing more or better could have been said. What I want to emphasize is that migrant and refugee flows will not cease, because there always exist conditions that favour this kind of population mobility, whether it is due to armed conflicts in the Sahel region, the Middle East or elsewhere in the world.
Social inequality in certain regions of the world also leads people to seek a better life.
In this regard, Greece has implemented in recent years a very systematic policy based on border surveillance and the creation of adequate accommodation structures for those who enter Greece.
Moreover, as a host nation, we rely on the necessary and desired solidarity of the European Union. We have accomplished a great deal, ensuring that unaccompanied minors enjoy absolute protection today.
Controlling migration flows is essential, but no country can address this issue alone. For this reason, it is primarily a question of a coherent European policy, which I believe should be based on three areas.
The first area is border surveillance in Europe. Surveillance must be conducted so as to combat the scourge of human trafficking, one of the world's most modern and torturous problems.
The second need is to ensure that returns are carried out when they are appropriate, and when there is no question of humanitarian protection.
Greece has now addressed the issue of humanitarian protection through granting asylum to those that need it, but there should be an effective way for returns as well. Unfortunately, the 2016 joint Statement between the European Union and Türkiye has not produced the results that we expected.
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, as my counterpart rightly pointed out, we need to ensure that there are legal routes of migration, that is, orderly migration.
In any case, currently Greece, as other European countries, is in need of workforce. Establishing legal and controlled routes could effectively substitute and weaken the traffickers and illegal networks that exist and highlight the need for a cohesive, central European strategy on migration.
Thank you very much.
September 13, 2023