Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas participated on Monday, 4 February 2013, in a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels.
The Council looked at preparations for the European Councils to take place on 7-8 February and 14-15 March, and the presentation of the Irish Presidency programme. Also on the agenda were issues including the Arab spring, the situation in Mali and Syria, and the strategy for the trade agreements the EE is pursuing with third countries, including the U.S., Canada and China.
Mr. Kourkoulas welcomed the Irish Presidency’s programme, focusing on the goals of promoting growth and creating jobs, as well as the effort to encourage the EU enlargement process, with emphasis on the Western Balkans. He noted Greece’s positive stance on enlargement in the Western Balkans, provided candidates meet all the criteria that have been set for the countries that want to join the EU.
The Deputy Foreign Minister then stressed the role of trade in confronting the current crisis, underscoring the importance of maintaining a balance in the negotiations on the trade agreements and the significance of the issue of protecting geographical indications.
Mr. Kourkoulas attended a working luncheon for competent EU member state Ministers, which was also attended by European Council President Rompuy. The discussion at the luncheon focused on the matter of the EU budget for 2014-2020, which will be dealt with by this week’s European Council. He had the opportunity to promote Greece’s positions, stressing the development dimension of the multiannual financial framework and the importance of Greece’s having access to adequate funding from the Cohesion Policy and the CAP. Finally, he underscored the need for initiatives on the European level aimed at combating the recession and unemployment, and particularly youth unemployment.
February 4, 2013