“Safety valve” is in any case the veto warning on its accession of North Macedonia in the EU since the newly elected leadership insists on causing and to violate the terms of the Prespa Agreement.

Speaking to Sky, Angelos Syrigos, Professor of International Law and ND Member of Parliamentexplains what the practical implications of the country might be and what Mitsotakis’ warning means to its state and political leadership.

In particular, as stated by Mr. Syrigos, in article 19 of the agreement, it is provided that in the event of a breach of the conditions, one side points out the fact to the other requesting a settlement of the issue, and if this is not done then it is provided for the appeal to the UN Secretary General for mediation by the so-called “good services”.

If there is still no solution, the two countries must jointly request an appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

In the event that one does not respond then the other has the right of unilateral appeal after six months.

If things take this turn it will take four years for the final decision.

Regarding the potential barrier to North Macedonia’s European perspective, in case it does not comply, Mr. Syrigos points out that the rejection of the accession funds is a simpler means of pressure.

“But there are also pressures exerted by individual countries“, he observes.

It is no coincidence that immediately after the announcement of the new President that she is swearing in the name of Macedonia, there was automatic pressure from America, from Germany, from other European countries and also from the Commission, he estimates, adding that there was preparatory work as there was the fear of such a development.

Be that as it may, the achievement of the entry of our neighbors into NATO, with the signing of the Prespa Agreement, (even bypassing any reservations of Greece) is not at stake since from the moment a country enters the alliance there is no provision for exit.

However, it should be taken as a given that the case of breach of the agreement will lead to “disaster” for North Macedonia, regarding its status within NATO, as indicatively Greece will exercise a permanent veto on potential projects for NATO purposes within Skopje.

Analyzing the possibility that the new government of North Macedonia unilaterally denounces the Prespa Agreement itself, in the context of the nationalist “estrus” which we have witnessed recently, Mr. Syrigos summarizes that if this happens without a serious reason for violation by on our side, then it is still bound by articles 1,3 and 1,4 which concern the name, the name of the people and the language of the country.

Finally, in relation to what the non-ratification of the pending protocols by the Greek Parliament means in practice, and if this can be used against us, the professor of International Law explains that it is essentially three memoranda, one of which is related to the policing of Skopje FYR by us and Italy and is essentially implemented within the framework of NATO.

The second concerns North Macedonia’s accession process to the EU and obviously has no reason to speed it up as long as the current conditions do not change.

The third is related to economic cooperation between the two countries.

” It’s not that important” summed up Mr. Syrigos.

“Let’s say that we had ratified them, the new President would not swear in the name of Macedonia?”, he asked.