PRAGUE – Main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras was in Prague on Thursday to participate in the Party of European Socialists (PES) preparatory summit.

According to party sources, Tsipras is expected to address three issues at the pre-summit.

The first concerns support of the Gentiloni-Breton initiative for a financial tool to deal with the energy crisis. Specifically, he will propose issuing a joint Eurobond aimed at reducing energy costs and financing targeted national interventions.

According to the same sources, Tsipras is expected to warn that “the only sure path that will leave us facing another debt crisis in Europe is to continue a ‘race of national subsidies’ that will allow huge margins for profiteering and uncontrollable deficits,” and stress that “we must finally decide whether our future is based on solidarity or our individual interests, as Germany seems to be choosing. This is not the Europe of our values.”

The second issue concerns the need for the EU to undertake diplomatic initiatives to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Tsipras is expected to recall the Draghi initiative and ask the question: “Will we fight for peace?” Are we going to concern ourselves with the interests of Europe or are we going to shuffle like sleepwalkers over the cliff, letting developments be determined exclusively by Putin with his aggressive plans and the USA with their economic interests?”

And finally, he will refer to Turkish aggression and the recent illegal Turkish-Libyan Agreement, urgently requesting that the EU immediately decide on a package of sanctions against Turkey, which will be activated if the latter violates Greece’s sovereign rights by exploring for fossil fuels west of the 28th meridian.

He is therefore expected, according to SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance sources, to underline that “there must be no repetition of the Oruc Reis crisis” and that “the EU must make decisions on sanctions and – in this context – Greece must decide on the extension of its territorial waters in the Eastern Mediterranean as provided for by international law.”