It came as expected. The statement by EU Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, about “border restructuring between Greece and Albania” triggered an outrage in Greece. Many media outlets spoke of “change of borders between Greece and Albania.” Main opposition conservative New Democracy took advantage of a foolish statement by an EU Commissioner and called on the government to stop secret diplomacy.
Everybody in Greece was convinced that the country would lose if a “border restructure” should take place.
Brussels tried to calm things down and rectify Hahn’s words. An EU Commission spokesman told the Greek news agency that Hahn did not make any reference about “change of borders.”
Of course, everybody saw the video and heard Hahn speaking in clear English.
The spokesman said that “the EU Commissioner spoke of the need to resolve all open bilateral issues before any future enlargement of the EU. He referred to the ongoing Greek-Albanian negotiations on the Exclusive Economic Zone in the Ionian Sea which, of course, can only be completed on the basis of a mutually acceptable agreement.”
Anyone who is aware of the Greek-Albanian negotiations on the EEZ whould understand that Hahn was referring to this agreement. It was just a foolish and reckless wording by an ignorant high-ranking Commission official.
Nevertheless, New Democracy issued a statement saying among others:
“We learned through Commissioner Hahn that the government negotiates to change our borders with Albania!”
New Democracy calls on PM Tsipras, Defense Minister Kammenos and Foreign Minister Kotzias to immediately halt here and now the secret diplomacy they allegedly do with Albania.
The statement calls also on Hahn to practically mind his own business and behave according to his role.
PS At the end of the day we’ve learned that foolish commissioners make reckless statements and need the intervention of EU’s higher powers to bring things right. It’s not the first and it won’t be the last time such an incident happens.
