Alternate FM Katrougalos announces Greece’s intention to support Macedonia’s bid to join Adriatic-Ionian Initiative


Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos in a letter to the EU Commissioners in charge of enlargement and regional policy, announced Greece’s intention to support Macedonia’s bid to join the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII), MIA reports from Athens.

‘Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos in a letter to the EU Commissioners in charge of enlargement and regional policy, Johannes Hahn and Corina Cretu respectively, has announced Greece’s intention to support fYRoM’s candidacy within the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR),’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says in a press release.

It further notifies that Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia/Herzegovina are already part of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, saying that the partnership within the AII is being implemented through four pillars, namely the Blue Growth/ Maritime Cooperation, Connectivity (Transport and Energy), Environment and Tourism.

Greece’s support for Macedonia’s AII membership was announced by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at a meeting with his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev last month in Davos, as part of official Athens’ contribution to confidence building measures between the two countries.