European Interest

Greens: Weber’s disregard for pro-European forces in Macedonia lacks leadership

Flickr/Zé Valdi/CC BY-SA 2.0

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said he will call a confidence vote after his governing coalition broke apart over the Macedonia name change.  It comes following the renaming of Macedonia as the “Republic of Northern Macedonia” that was approved by parliament last Friday with the required two-thirds majority.

The EPP leading candidate for the European elections Manfred Weber commented on the topic by saying he would support Greek Conservatives who are against renaming Macedonia.

The European Green Party Leading Candidates, co-president of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament Ska Keller and MEP Bas Eickhout responded:

“We give our whole-hearted support to the pro-European forces in Macedonia and Greece who are trying to bury the hatchet and embrace closer ties with its European neighbours. Weber has chosen to put party politics over greater peace and stability in the Balkans.  This is both disappointing and shows a lack of leadership and vision.  It is only by bolstering outward-looking forces that Europe will overcome deeply engrained animosities and allow people to embrace new opportunities.”

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