Upon the initiative of Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, the foreign ministers of four Balkan countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, and Romania) and their counterparts from the Visegrad Group (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) will be meeting in Sounio today to discuss the EU, its direction, and their own roles therein.

The three thematic discussions that will be held by the participants concern the future of the EU, EU enlargement, and Εnergy.

The informal grouping of the eight countries (called Visegrad-4 plus and Balkan-4 plus ) was initiated by Kotzias in a bid to deepen their cooperation and integration in the EU.

This is their second meeting, and it signals Greece’s intention to establish a stronger presence in the Balkans.

From the Balkans, Albania, FYROM, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be present as observers, as all their countries aspire to enter the EU.