GREEK PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION - ERSTE LESUNG - # THE ÜBERSICHT - Erstelesung
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# THE ÜBERSICHT GREEK PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ERSTE LESUNG
COUNCIL
PRESIDENCY
GROWTH – MIGRATION- FURTHER INTEGRATION
JOBS-COHESION BORDERS-MOBILITY OF THE EU-ZONE
The Greek Presidency has establis- The Greek Presidency will con- The Greek Presidency will strive to
hed as first priority for its term the centrate its efforts on advancing a safeguard the stability of the euro
promotion of economic growth as comprehensive migration manage- by advancing the deepening of the
GREECE only way to lead Europe out of the
recession. This first priority is cle-
arly linked to Greece’s own needs.
ment that helps boost growth and
reduce the burden of controlling
migration flows on member states
European Monetary Union (EMU).
The ex-ante coordination of nati-
onal fiscal and economic policies
Economic growth and the creation situated at Europe’s external bor- will be a precondition to comple-
of jobs go hand in hand. Therefore, ders. The Presidency will promote all ting the EMU architecture. Howe-
GENERAL ECONOMY the initiatives and actions to fight dimensions of migration and mobi- ver, Greece’s ambition to adjust the
INFORMATION against unemployment and boost lity policies within the framework of Eurozone’s institutional arquitecture
The Greek economy, having achie- Despite these efforts, Greece failed job creation are necessary in order the EU’s Global Approach to Migrati- may be controversial. Greece also
Greece is located in southeastern ved high growth rates until 2008, to meet the 2010 targets and recei- to avoid a “jobless growth” in Euro- on. The problems arising from illegal intends to introduce more transpa-
Europe, at the crossroads of the showed signs of recession in 2009 ved in late 2011 a second bailout pe. During the presentation of the immigration will be also addressed rency and accountability into the
Middle East, Asia and Africa. It is as a result of the global financial cri- of €136 billion. It remains unclear Presidency’s priorities, Foreign Mi- during the first half of 2014. EU’s economic governance.
a member of the European Union sis. From 2010 onwards the reces- whether Greece will have to negoti- nister Venizelos criticised the po- The Presidency’s actions will focus
since 1981 and of the Eurozone sion intensified considerably due to ate during its Presidency a third bai- licy-making of the European Union on: (I) the promotion of the banking
since 2001. Greece’s last EU Presi- the country’s fiscal imbalances. Gre- lout. The restrictive policies of the and proposed an alternative notion MARITIME POLICIES union; (II) agreement on the princip-
dency in 2003 resulted in the Thes- ece was hit very hard as its main in- past four years have had a negative regarding the future of Europe. Ho- les of the budgetary and economic
saloniki agenda for EU enlargement dustries (shipping and tourism) were impact on GDP growth, leading to a wever, it is unlikely that Greece will Due to its geographical position integration, in order to ensure the
and a draft treaty for the European especially sensitive to changes in decrease by 4 per cent in 2010, 7.1 be able to change the way decisions and the importance for the eco- implementation of the new econo-
Constitution. Its economy is, des- the business cycle. The government per cent in 2011 and 6.4 per cent are taken in the European Union. nomy of the maritime sector, Gre- mic governance mechanisms and
pite the crisis, the largest of the spent heavily to keep the economy in 2012 (constant prices of year The Presidency’s efforts will aim at ece will pay special attention to the increase synergies between mem-
Balkans. Around 10.8 million peo- functioning and the country's debt 2005). In 2012 the GDP amounted balancing fiscal consolidation whi- EU maritime policy during its Coun- ber states and (III) the social dimen-
ple live in Greece, of which 93 per increased accordingly. In May 2010 to €168.5 billion. For 2014 the Greek le implementing an improved Pact cil Presidency. According to the sion of the EMU.
cent are Greek nationals and 7 Greece’s credit rating was downgra- economy is expected to slightly for Growth and Jobs. The aim is Greek Foreign Minister, Evangelos
per cent foreigners. The unicame- ded to junk status. The International grow. Unemployment has escalated to transform this into a European Venizelos, the EU needs “a compre-
ral parliament, composed of 300 Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Euro- from 7.6 per cent in 2008 (approxi- investment programme, modeled hensive maritime policy that brings
seats, elects the President of the zone governments provided Greece mately the Eurozone average rate) to after the cohesion policy and focu- together the security of maritime
Republic for a five-year term. The with emergency short- and medi- above 25 per cent in 2013. Youth un- sed on employment creation. borders, blue development, energy,
legislative elections are held every um-term loans worth €110 billion, employment exceeds 50 per cent. Within this framework, the Euro- fisheries, tourism, protection of un-
four years. The current Prime Mi- so that the country could make debt pean Investment Bank (EIB) can dersea archaeological wealth, and
nister, Antonis Samaras, is in office repayments to creditors. In exchan- play an important role in relation maritime zones”. The Presidency
since 20 June 2012. ge for the bailout, the government to labour intensive projects (e.g. will introduce, therefore, a horizon-
announced combined spending projects for SMEs, basic infrastruc- tal thematic, which will be running
cuts and tax increases, on top of the ture, energy and climate) with the through all the other priorities. The
tough austerity measures already support and trust of the European target is to revamp the EU maritime
taken since 2009. Central Bank (ECB). policy and avoid reducing it to issu-
es related to growth and develop-
ment (Limassol Declaration).WHO
IS WHO
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INFORMATION,
CLICK ON THE
PICTURES:
KAROLOS ANTONIS EVANGELOS KYRIAKOS KONSTANTINOS MICHALIS
PAPOULIAS SAMARAS VENIZELOS MISOTAKIS ARVANITOPOULOS CHRISOCHOIDIS
President Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister Adminstration Education and Infraestructure,
Foreign Affairs and Governance Religious Affairs Transport and
Networks
PANOS GIANNIS YANNIS ADONIS KOSTIS GIANNIS CHARALAMPOS GIANNIS
PANAGIOTOPOULOS MANIATIS STOURNARAS GEORGIADES CHATZIDAKIS MICHELAKIS ATHANASSIOU VROUTSIS
Culture and Sport Environment, Energy Finance Health Development and Interior Justice Labour
and Climate Change Competitiveness
REPRESENTATIVE
DIMITRIS NIKOS ATHANASIOS MILTIADIS OLGA DIMITRIOS THEODOROS N.
AVRAMOPOULOS DENDIAS TSAFTARIS VARVITSIOTIS KEFALOGIANNI STAMATIS SOTIROPOULOS
Defence Public Order and Citizen Rural Development Shipping Tourism State Perm. Rep. EU
Protection and FoodPOLICY FIELDS
ENERGY ENVIRONMENT JUSTICE
The Greek Presidency will address will contribute to the preparation How to bring investments to Eu- of medical devices, while ensuring In the field of justice the Greek Pre- third country nationals. Particularly
issues related to three landmark and the successful conduct of the rope while preserving the natural a high level of health protection. sidency has three main priorities: important for Greece is the rein-
dates, namely: the 2014 deadline Geneva II peace conference, unani- environment and ensuring the sus- Non-legislative priorities will include (a) to work on future developments forcement of the cooperation bet-
set for completing the internal mar- mously recognised as the only way tainable management of natural (a) the economic crisis and its im- in the area of freedom, security ween the EU member states and
ket, the 2015 deadline by which no to achieve a political solution. Wit- resources will be the key priority pact on healthcare and health sys- and justice (post-Stockholm peri- the EU institutions, as well as with
member state should remain isola- hin the region, special attention will of the Greek Presidency in the en- tems, (b) migration and public health, od) and to define strategic guide- third countries across the whole
ted from Europe’s networks and the be paid to Egypt and Libya, playing vironmental field. The protection (c) nutrition and physical activity and lines for legislative and operational range of the asylum and migration
2015 International Climate Change the latter an important role in the of European biodiversity, the sus- (d) eHealth and health innovation. planning; (b) to contribute to the policy. To this end, the Presidency
Agreement. Moreover, the Presiden- control of migratory flows. tainable development of maritime progress of measures and initiati- will work on the implementation
cy will seek to move forward the EU’s spaces and planning that offer ves within the context of data pro- of the Common European Asylum
energy and climate policies post opportunities for investment and EMPLOYMENT tection and (c) to reach possibly an System, with particular emphasis
2020 on the basis of the awaited HOME AFFAIRS employment will be also on the AND SOCIAL POLICY agreement concerning the propo- on measures to strengthen solida-
Communication from the Commis- agenda. A controversial issue that sed Directive against fraud to the rity and fair burden-sharing.
sion on “Climate and Energy 2030 During the first half of 2014 the the Greek Presidency may need The first priority of the Greek Presi- Union’s financial interests by means
Framework”. The drivers of energy Greek Presidency will work in coope- to address will be the Commissi- dency will be the promotion of em- of criminal law. Particular attention
prices and costs, the protection of ration with the Member States and on’s proposal to cap the amount ployment, particularly for the young will be also paid to the revision of SCIENCE
vulnerable consumers, energy po- the European Commission towards of “bad biofuel” that can be used. people. In this regard, the Presiden- the Insolvency Regulations and the
verty as well as competitiveness of the formulation of the strategic ob- This dossier may lead to a conflict cy will speed up the implementation Regulation on the establishment of With regards to science, the main
the overall energy sector will be also jectives and policy guidelines of the between the European Parliament of actions under the “Initiative for the European Public Prosecutor’s priority of the Greek Presidency will
on the agenda of the Greek Presi- European Union in the post-Stock- and the Council of Ministers. In that the Youth” and monitor the imple- Office, along with the Regulation on be the successful implementation
dency. A further focus will be interna- holm period. The aim is to offer an case, the Greek Presidency will be mentation of national projects re- the reform of Eurojust. Finally, the of Horizon 2020, the EU’s Frame-
tional relations in the field of energy effective framework for strategy and in charge of finding a compromise. lated to the “Youth Guarantee”. The Presidency will also work towards work Programme for Research and
and especially the value of multilate- action while respecting the diffe- Presidency also aims at concluding the adoption of the Directive on the Innovation for the period 2014-
ral frameworks such as the Energy rentiated level of responsibilities of the negotiations with the Europe- protection of the Euro and other 2020. Other targets will be the pro-
Community of South East Europe both the EU and the member states. HEALTH an Parliament in order to adopt the currencies against counterfeiting. motion of the participation of third
and the Union for the Mediterranean. With migration being one of its top Directive on the posting of workers countries in Horizon 2020 (Interna-
priorities, the Presidency will try to The Greek Presidency will prioritise during the first half of 2014. Other tional S&T Agreements), advancing
achieve a political agreement on the the progress of important legis- priorities are the establishment of a MIGRATION the European Research Area (ERA)
FOREIGN POLICY proposed directive for conditions of lative proposals in the field of he- Quality Framework for Internships AND ASYLUM and the completion of the Innovati-
entry and residence of third coun- alth, pharmaceutical and medical and the fight against undeclared ve Investment Package, particularly
In the foreign policy field the Greek try nationals in the framework of an devices. The legislative work will work. In the social field the Greek The Greek Presidency will focus concerning public-private and pub-
Presidency will focus on two re- intra-corporate transfer. Another focus on issues such as tobacco Presidency’s agenda will include its efforts on a European holistic lic-public partnerships. Furthermore,
gions: Eastern Europe and the objective will be to advance discus- products, clinical trials, pharma- issues such as ensuring adequate approach and management of the the Greek Presidency will prioritise
Mediterranean. First, it will con- sions on the entry and stay of third covigilance fees and the transpa- and sustainable social protection migration policy, with parallel ac- Copernicus, the successor pro-
tinue the efforts of the Lithuani- country nationals for the purposes rency directive. The main target of systems and minimum safety nets tions to mitigate the consequen- gramme of the Global Monitoring for
an Presidency within the frame- of research, studies, pupil exchange, the Presidency will be, however, to address unemployment, pover- ces in the economic, social and Environment and Security, with the
work of the Eastern Partnership, remunerated and unremunerated to make substantial progress on ty and aging population. The pro- political reality of EU member sta- aim to complete this file by the end
especially in regards to Ukraine. training, voluntary service and au the proposals for medical devices. motion of equal opportunities and tes. It will promote the increase of of the first semester of 2014.
The second focal point will be the pairing. The Greek Presidency will These proposals will provide a le- the strengthening of the European EU funding in order to better ad-
eastern Mediterranean. Concer- also seek to promote the European gislative framework for the manu- Tripartite Social Summit have also dress migration flows, especially in
ning Syria, the Greek Presidency Agenda for Integration. facture and placing on the market been listed as priorities. the area of returns/readmissions ofFURTHER
INFORMATION
AMCHAM: EURACTIV: EUBUSINESS:
Greece takes the torch from Greek presidency pledges to Cash-strapped Greece to
Lithuania ‚connect‘ the Western Balkans host ‘spartan’ EU Presidency
EKATHIMERINI: EURACTIV: GREEK REPORTER
Greek government ‚well prepared‘ Troubled Greece prepares for Concerns about Greek
for EU‘s presidency, says Schulz spartan EU presidency Presidency delays
EKATHIMERINI: EUROPEAN VOICE: GREEK REPORTER
Samaras in Brussels: Greek EU Backing for Greek 2014 budget EPP’s Daul optimistic on Greek
presidency one of opportunity, EU presidency
not crisis EUROPEAN VOICE:
The Greek presidency of the THE PARLIAMENT:
EURACTIV: Council of the EU (Dossier) Greek Presidency priorities to
Greece drops enlargement from ‘reflect the spirit of the times’
its EU presidency priorities
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