Frederica Mogherini, EU High Representative on Foreign and Security Policy, and Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship made the following remarks following their participation at the Ministerial conferences of the ‘Rabat’ and ‘Khartoum’ Processes in Rome.

High Representative Mogherini stated the following:

”I am very pleased with the results of the Ministerial conferences of the last two days: the ‘Rabat process’ and the ‘Khartoum process’. Thanks to the leadership of the Italian Presidency and the teamwork with Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, these two conferences have been a success; we need to act together and to find solutions for all aspects of migration.

Sometimes we are tempted to deal with this issue as a security matter, but our presence in Rome underlines the commitment of the European Union to have a broader approach. In this regard, within the European Commission, we have started to act in a coordinated way and to work from all different angles, in order to maximise the impact of our policies and projects. It is our responsibility to make sure that all the tools we have are coherent.

We need to tackle the emergencies, to deal with the dramatic conditions of people who put their lives at risk to try to find a better future, to work with countries of transition and to fight migrant smuggling. But we also need to tackle the root causes of irregular migration: poverty, conflicts, lack of resources. That’s why it is essential to develop fully all our European means. We need the impetus, support and political will from Member States and international partners, which we received these days in Rome.”

Commissioner Avramopoulos stated the following:

”During the two Ministerial conferences in Rome, and thanks to the hard work of the Italian presidency and the close cooperation and coordination with High Representative Frederica Mogherini, we achieved a number of tangible results that strengthen our capacity to deal with irregular migration from Africa.

The Rabat Process is a long standing initiative which has created a unique level of consensus and common vision for migration with our partners from North, West and Central Africa. Our support for the implementation of the Rabat Process has been far reaching. We have helped our partners in the region to strengthen their borders. In Mauritania, for example, we helped build the capacity of the border authorities, constructed border posts and provided necessary equipment. We have also assisted authorities in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt to strengthen their criminal justice systems in fighting smugglers of migrants.

The Rabat Process has now entered a new phase. Our ‘Rome Declaration’ underscores two priority areas:  1) strengthening the link between migration and development and, 2) prevention of and fight against irregular migration. The Rome Declaration has also added a new pillar for cooperation: international protection.

For the Khartoum Process, today we laid down the foundations for substantial political cooperation amongst the countries of origin, transit and destination along the EU-Horn of Africa migration route.

We will finance the first projects that will support migrants and refugees stranded along the migration routes from Eastern Africa. Moreover, EU funds have been allocated in order to help strengthen the cooperation with our African partners for the fight against smugglers and traffickers.

What is clear, therefore, is that our dialogue with our African partners is starting to pay off.  Our strength has always been and will continue to be, the way in which we mutually reinforce and complement our cooperation at all levels.

VENIZELOS: “The Middle East, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean are in crisis, or at least in a state of tension. These three regions are interlinked, and Greece, which is a close neighbour of this region, is monitoring the issues closely, with concern and composure, trying to play its role as a factor for stability, peace and security.

Greece is a member state of the European Union and a longstanding member of NATO. It is fully aware of where it stands internationally and, of course, what its international obligations are.

And Greece is of course also a nation that has historical relations and special interests in this region, due to the historical presence of Greek Orthodox Patriarchates, due to the presence of considerable Christian and, more specifically, Greek Orthodox populations, due to the existence of Greek communities, and due to the existence of Greek enterprises and Greek economic interests.

We are also interested in everything that happens in the Middle East, because Greece wants to function in an exemplary manner, always within the framework of international law – and more specifically the Law of the Sea – in the Eastern Mediterranean space.

…As I had the opportunity to say in previous statements, a heinous crime has been perpetrated in Syria: the use of absolutely prohibited chemical weapons. This crime is condemned by the whole of the international community, by the European Union and by Greece.

Our response on this issue is absolute, it is clear. And of course this has to be set down in a corresponding manner that produces results.

But at the same time, the political process must be safeguarded. The international community’s objective is and must remain the convening of the Geneva II Conference, which is solely capable of shaping a permanent, viable solution in Syria. Syria is a decisive country in developments in the wider region.

We are participating in all the discussions taking place in the European Union and NATO. We are in contact with all the European countries, with all the Gulf countries, with the Arab League. We are as apprised as possible. There is nothing else before us at this time, nor has any matter been raised, nor has anything more specific been requested.

We are also monitoring issues with regard to the Greek citizens who are in Syria, so that we can provide them with all possible assistance. And, naturally, we are in full coordination with not only the Defence Ministry, but also all the co-competent Ministries, within the framework of the responsibilities of each of those ministries.”

AVRAMOPOULOS: “…Our country, as a stable and stabilizing factor in the region, is always prepared to meet its international obligations… from the very first moment, Greece took a crystal clear position. It pursued and proposed the political resolution of the problem that had been created and that has now taken on tragic dimensions.

It is true that the situation in the region is particularly dangerous both for Syria itself as well as for the wider region. So I come back to what I said earlier: that our role is crystal clear, we are at the service of the international community, of international law, in keeping with our contractual obligations within the framework of the international organizations.

Mr. Venizelos and I looked at all the facets of the situation as it has taken shape, with composure, prudence and good preparation. Greece is always ready to assist in creating the conditions that will lead our wider region to an environment of safety, security, stability. And of course we always stand by the peoples of the region who are fighting for democracy.”

The agenda for Mr. Avramopoulos’s talks with the UN Secretary General includes the negotiations on the FYROM name issue, the Cyprus issue, and issues concerning the stability and security of the wider region of Southeast Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa.

Within the framework of his visit to New York City, Mr. Avramopoulos will attend a working luncheon with representatives of the Hellenic Initiative to discuss the attraction of investments to Greece and the strengthening of Greece’s international image.

Mr. Avramopoulos will also meet on Thursday morning with His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America.

Hollande and Merkel need the latest report on Greece’s economic situation and a precise aid request before deciding how to help the country, France’s European affairs minister said according to Bloomberg. “There’s a process we’re engaged in to evaluate the efforts made by Greece in recent months, which we know was set back by elections,” European Affairs Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said yesterday in an interview with Europe 1 radio. “We’ll evaluate the situation and try to take a common position.”

Citing news agencies, capital.gr writes that Germany will not substantially soften its agreements with Greece, its foreign minister Guido Westerwelle said yesterday, after meeting with his Greek counterpart Dimitris Avramopoulos. According to Kathimerini Westerwelle said Greece needs to carry out the reforms that have already been agreed upon, but that “the German government wants us to remain together in the eurozone.” He pledged Germany’s help in implementing the reforms, but said “the key to success lies in Athens.”

According to protothema.gr, the government is still seeking around EUR 700 million to EUR 1 billion. All unresolved issues were on the table in the meeting yesterday evening between Antonis Samaras and Finance minister Yannis Stournaras. In statements after the meeting, Stournaras said “we are talking about a new type of labour reserve [in the public sector]“, and that the full package of measures will be ready early in September, before the Troika’s arrival in Athens. He added that the meeting with Samaras was of an informative nature; at this time “they are costing the measures” and this is an ongoing process.

“Mr. Avramopoulos’ recent journey to Berlin and the forthcoming trip of Mr. Samaras are meaningless” SYRIZA MP Rena Dourou said in an interview with NET radio, “since in their luggage they bear no other approach than full obedience to Merkel.” SYRIZA MP said the Prime Minister forgot to renegotiate and now the new national goal is to extend the programme.

Dourou also argued that “lengthening the adjustment period while keeping the disastrous recipe of internal devaluation, is nothing more than as to give us a longer rope to hang ourselves.”