Concluding his visit at Skopje today (20.2.2014) and after meeting with FYROM’s political leaders, during his tour of Western Balkan capitals, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, addressed a press conference and took questions from the media.

In his capacity as the current President of the Council of the EU, Minister Venizelos stated, inter alia, the following:

“I am here to discuss with the local authorities in order to enhance the European and the Euro-atlantic perspective of this country, as its complete European integration is very important for the regional stability, as well as for our priorities as the current EU presidency.  Because, as you know, this presidency is the fifth one after the accession of Greece to the European Union and the legacy and institutional memory of the previous Greek European Presidency, in accordance with the famous Thessaloniki Agenda of 2003, was the enlargement of the EU with the accession of the countries of our common area, the Western Balkans. And now I am here in order for this regional policy to be implemented as a European one.”

Please read below the full text of the press conference.