Foreign Minister N. Kotzias' Europe Day/9 May message

On today's historic anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, we need to reflect on the current challenges and impasses the European Union is facing. We need to revitalise the principles and values that shaped the European edifice; values such as democracy, egalitarianism and social solidarity. And we need to work so that Europe and European foreign policy can gain strategic thinking to deal with the existing leadership deficit. We need to give our peoples prospects again and to fight for a Europe that will abandon punitive policies that are counterproductive and exacerbate the existing problems.

As an active member of the EU, Greece will continue to exercise a proactive and multidimensional foreign policy, promoting a number of international initiatives aimed at consolidating peace and stability in both Europe and neighbouring regions.