ATHENS — "The accession perspective of the Western Balkans is of strategic importance for the European Union and crucial for the security and stability of the region," main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras said on Wednesday upon his arrival at the PES (Party of European Socialists) preparatory meeting in Slovenia.

The leader of the main opposition noted that the EU "must finally assume its responsibilities and maintain the momentum of the Prespes Agreement, which after many years reopened the discussion and a realistic prospect of implementing the accession perspective of the Western Balkans."

However, the Greek government "must be serious", he said, emphasising that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cannot have two positions on this issue, both supporting the policy for the accession of the Western Balkans – fortunately, moving away from the view that he will veto the accession prospect of North Macedonia – while refusing for the past two years to ratify the three memoranda arising from the Prespes Agreement in the Greek Parliament.

"At a critical time for Europe, where the rise of the far right is a fact as well as the strengthening of the far-right parties, but also of the far right within conservative parties is a fact, one cannot have a foot in both camps," Tsipras said, and added: "he must have a clear position on critical issues for the region's prospects, peace and stability."