Hellenic MoFA: Deputy FM Kourkoulas’ statements on Hellenic Public Television following the presentation of the logo of the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the EU

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JOURNALIST: Minister, the symbol for the Greek presidency is simple and symbolic and, I would say, rather moving.

D. KOURKOULAS: Yes, simple as Mr. Venizelos said, and loaded with symbolism.

JOURNALIST: Today is essentially the day that we commence the Greek Presidency.


D. KOURKOULAS: Officially, it begins on January 1. On January 8 the College of Commissioners will gather for a meeting with the government. However, we have already launched various activities. Tomorrow, we will be hosting the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament.  Meaning all the political group leaders of the European Parliament will meet with the Prime Minister, as well as with the President of the Republic. Thus, our responsibilities begin earlier than January 1, but they will certainly increase throughout the six months.

As I said in the presentation, we are talking about 120 meetings in Athens, with 28 national delegations participating in each meeting, along with the European Commission and the Council Secretariat. We are talking about over 14,000 arrivals, over 20,000 overnight stays, and this is the official programme of the Presidency.

Of course parallel and adjacent to it, several events will hosted buy NGOs, think thanks, conferences etc., which will, I believe, attract media attention to our country – and hopefully in a positive light – during the semester.

JOURNALIST: Concerning your political priorities, which ones would you say concern the Greek people?

• D. KOURKOULAS: The Greek people and all Europeans. The crisis is, unfortunately, pan-European. Certainly, our country is severely and more brutally affected, but the crisis remains pan-European. The combination of growth and job creation – which are directly linked to institutional consolidation, consolidation of the economic and monetary union and particularly the banking union – is the most important thing, for that is the source of the practical results.

• Already I believe Europe has embarked on a path of realizing that fiscal adjustment alone will not suffice. A balance is needed between fiscal adjustment, which is necessary, and measures for social cohesion and fostering growth.

mfa.gr
26/11/13
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Hellenic MoFA: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos presents the logo of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union