COUNCIL OF MINISTERS: ATHENS KEEN TO ENROL ANKARA IN EU FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY.

Balkan neighbours.

The signing of Accession Treaties on April 16 in Athens serves as a reminder that the accession process is still on-going. Commission President Romano Prodi, who paid a working visit to the Greek capital on January 9 and 10 with fellow Commissioners to co-ordinate work with members of the Greek Government, believes now is no time for idleness. Mr Prodi believes "the Hellenic Presidency will help the European Union and the Balkan region to approach each other. A strategy of inclusion must be shown to the Balkan states, according to the merits of each". The case is likely to arise shortly, with Croatia expected to table its candidacy. Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis indicated that "Croatia belongs to Europe and it is clear that all the Balkan countries have a vocation to become members following a process lasting several years", adding "difficult political questions have to be addressed, but our aim is their accession". Interior Minister Michalis Chryssochoidis insisted on the notion of a timeframe, given the political instability in these countries and the influence of mafia networks that riddle the region. Mr Chryssochoidis pointed out with no small measure of concern that over the four years he has been Minister, Albania has got through seven Interior Ministers. An EU/Balkans Summit is scheduled for June 21 in Salonika.

Red Fox and Cypriots.

The first stage in a tour of the Balkans, Greece's Foreign Minister and the acting President of the General Affairs Council, Georgios Papandreou, is expected on the week beginning January 13 in Macedonia, where the EU, taking over operation Red Fox from NATO, will shortly deploy a contingent under European command. A pilot action, this peace-keeping mission will be entirely conducted by the Europeans in the context of CFSP, taking advantage of the agreement concluded by the EU and NATO. This agreement, wrested with some difficulty from Greece and Turkey, represents one of their last clashes. However, since the main bone of contention between the two countries - the partition of Cyprus - has become an EU problem and no longer a bilateral issue with Cypriot membership on the cards, Athens and Ankara appear to be living something akin to a honeymoon. Georgios Papandreou professes that "a European Turkey is in the interests of Greece and of the entire region". Greece is keen to involve Turkey in various high risk missions anticipated during its six month Presidency. Defence...