Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias made the following statement on the margins of today’s meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, in Luxembourg:
N. KOTZIAS: During today’s meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, I had the opportunity to present to my colleagues the Greek positions on the issues of migration and energy.
Regarding migration, I stressed three issues. First, I drew everyone’s attention to the importance of the migration policy’s non-militarization and of securing the cooperation of the Arab countries of North Africa. Second, I mentioned that we need to use all of the migration policy tools at the European Union’s disposal, and first and foremost the readmission agreements with countries like Pakistan. Third, I underscored that we should include Egypt in the cooperation, and that the EU institutional organs should be very careful in their contacts with third powers that are destabilizing the region and creating difficulties for the government of Egypt.
With regard to energy issues, I underscored that energy diplomacy is a difficult endeavor, because there are differing interests among the members states. This is why ensuring the success of European Union energy diplomacy requires good cooperation amongst the European institutions and the members states; cooperation that has to extend not just to the level of Ministers, but to all the levels of negotiation and cooperation.
I noted in particular that we have to bear in mind the new potential for member states based on international law, and especially the Law of the Sea. The partners of the European Union should respect international law and the Law of the Sea.
Greece can become an energy hub of a wider network that includes all of the member states of the Western Balkans. We believe that the more supply networks are created in the region, the more stability and energy security increase. I noted the importance of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), as well as the need for the Commission to take more actions for the Greece-Bulgaria-Romania vertical corridor. I also expressed my support for the creation of an East Med pipeline and the enhancement of the capacity of the existing and planned LNG terminals. I also referred to the need to strengthen the Southern Corridor, which transits Turkey, because it is not just necessary for carrying Russian natural gas, but also for transporting gas from Iraq and from Iran, as soon as conditions are stabilized.
Finally, I very starkly underscored that conditionality parameters and data that are outside the treaties of European Law and our Agreements cannot be set in the energy sector, stating that our country will not accept any terms that diverge from the legal framework and the agreements of the Union.
June 22, 2015