Another nail (or 2) in the coffin?
Greece Waging Diplomatic Battles vs. Sweden, UK...
Wednesday, 07 December 2011
Greek PM Lucas Papademos waged diplomatic battles with Sweden and the UK over Macedonia until midnight last night.
Official Athens has pressed the panic button and is working the phones day and night. PM Papademos was involved in a discussion with the UK and Sweden who vehemently oppose Athens stance on Macedonia's EU integration.
Papademos pleaded with the Swedes and the Brits that if Macedonia started EU negotiations it would be a dagger to the hearts of common Greeks at a time when the country is in the midst of a financial crisis. Very poetic by the Greek PM.
Official Athens is under increased pressure within EU circles for preventing Macedonia to join the EU especially after an ICJ decision in which Athens was the guilty party in breaking an official agreement that states Greece can not oppose Macedonia from joining any international organization.
To make matters worse, the EU is also not looking well because it is requiring a country to change its name in order to start accession talks, despite this not being part of the Copenhagen accession criteria.
Meanwhile, the Macedonian PM was once again a key note speaker, this time at a gathering of the EPP party in Marseille which saw over 1,200 participants from 29 countries, including presidents and primie ministers.
The EPP party holds the most seats in EU Parliament.
Wednesday, 07 December 2011
Greek PM Lucas Papademos waged diplomatic battles with Sweden and the UK over Macedonia until midnight last night.
Official Athens has pressed the panic button and is working the phones day and night. PM Papademos was involved in a discussion with the UK and Sweden who vehemently oppose Athens stance on Macedonia's EU integration.
Papademos pleaded with the Swedes and the Brits that if Macedonia started EU negotiations it would be a dagger to the hearts of common Greeks at a time when the country is in the midst of a financial crisis. Very poetic by the Greek PM.
Official Athens is under increased pressure within EU circles for preventing Macedonia to join the EU especially after an ICJ decision in which Athens was the guilty party in breaking an official agreement that states Greece can not oppose Macedonia from joining any international organization.
To make matters worse, the EU is also not looking well because it is requiring a country to change its name in order to start accession talks, despite this not being part of the Copenhagen accession criteria.
Meanwhile, the Macedonian PM was once again a key note speaker, this time at a gathering of the EPP party in Marseille which saw over 1,200 participants from 29 countries, including presidents and primie ministers.
The EPP party holds the most seats in EU Parliament.
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