Athens, 08/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - In Athens on Wednesday 8 January, the College of European Commissioners took part in the official launch of the Greek Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers.
“The presidency of the Council is a way of showing that modern Greece, not only classical Greece, can make an important contribution to Europe”, said European Commission President José Manuel Barroso at a press conference.
Greece, which holds the presidency of the EU Council from 1 January until 30 June - for the fifth time - will have to take quick action due to the elections in the European Parliament at the end of May. “The Greek Presidency will have three months to conclude a number of outstanding issues. This means that this Presidency must be truly operational immediately”, Barroso stated, reiterating the support of the European Commission.
“I am delighted at our close collaboration so that we can obtain tangible results for our citizens by showing a more Community spirit, more ambition and a greater solidarity. Europe is indeed our 'common quest' [the motto of the Greek Presidency] and Greece is at the centre of this quest”, Barroso added in his introductory speech at the official opening of the Presidency. Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras stressed the importance of a more positive approach and contact between the European citizens and the EU.
After a working lunch, the commissioners and members of the Greek government had an exchange of views during a plenary session. Samaras and Barroso met face to face in order to discuss the Greek Presidency and also Greece's economic situation. “Greece is taking over the rotating presidency of the Council at a particularly difficult time” for the country and its people, Barroso stated. “Greece's success is the European Union's success. Thanks to the support and the solidarity of the EU, Greece has held out in the most difficult period of the crisis. The challenges are still immense (…) but great progress has been made”, he added, paying tribute to the Greek people for their “courage” and “dignity”, and comparing them to the heroes of Greek history and literature. Stressing that the crisis is not completely over, Barroso called for the reforms to be continued.
The official opening ceremony of the Presidency, in the presence of the Commission and Greek government, of European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, of Greece's President Karolos Papoulis and of Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, was completed in the Athens Concert Hall.
The head of the main opposition party, Syriza, Alexis Tsipras, who is opposed to the austerity policies, decided not to take part in the ceremony. A source from his party described the decision as “symbolic” (our translation throughout). (CG/transl.fl)