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Athens Declaration Forms Basis of Discussion at European Council

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The Athens Declaration adopted by the European Union’s seven Mediterranean countries, during last week’s meeting in the Greek capital, will form the basis of the Greek positions at Friday’s informal European Council in Bratislava, government sources informed the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) on Thursday. Greece will also present additional positions of its own at the Bratislava summit, which is to be attended by 27 EU member-states excluding Britain, the sources said.
In statements about the Mediterranean leaders’ meeting last week, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that the aim of the meeting was to arrive at a joint and constructive contribution to the dialogue that was now beginning about the future of Europe, so that the Bratislava summit could serve as “democratic Europe’s reply to populism, xenophobia and racism.”
The government’s impression is that all the countries that signed the Athens Declaration will use it as the basis of their intervention in Bratislava, the sources added, noting that this would be positive since a joint stance will strengthen the specific agenda within the meeting. Also welcomed by the government’s side were the statements made by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in his annual speech, which they expect will also help to strengthen the specific agenda.
The Greek side again noted that the aim of the Athens meeting was not to create division or another grouping within the EU, but to contribute positively to setting an agenda. The prime minister also presented this point of view in his talk with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the sources added.
Greek positions at Bratislava will include steps to enhance defense of the EU’s external borders and internal security, with an upgraded foreign policy and international role for the EU, solidarity in dealing with the refugee crisis and a fair distribution of the burden between the EU member-states, as well as steps to set up an EU border and coast guard and cooperate with third countries.
Source: ANA-MPA
 

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