Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos made the following remarks at today’s meeting of the EU General Affairs Council, which focused on preparation of the Conclusions of the European Council – Summit Meeting – convening on Thursday and Friday, 19 and 20 December:
“The Conclusions of the upcoming European Council – the preparation of which will be discussed at the working luncheon, with the participation of the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy – are essentially those that open the great, pan-European political debate ahead of the European elections in May 2014. The great problem that we are all being called upon to confront is the new forms of Euroscepticism. There is thus the need for a new European narrative; a narrative that is more optimistic, more alluring and friendlier to the citizens of Europe, and particularly to the young generation, which is living under the threat of unemployment.
With regard to the Common Security and Defence Policy, the Conclusions of the European Council have already been drawn up by the Foreign Affairs Council, with the participation of the Ministers of Defence. But it is worth underscoring two points:
First, EU-NATO relations must be approached in a more open and functional manner, ensuring – whatever the case – the participation of all 28 EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus.
Second, while the Conclusions contain a very strong reference to the need to maintain the European industrial and technological defence infrastructure, other Services of the European Commission very frequently create obstacles to the maintaining of national defence industry. We experienced this in Greece, in the case of Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS) and Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELVO), and I am pleased because thus an agreement was achieved with regard to EAS, ensuring a significant portion of Greece’s industrial infrastructure in the defence sector. The same holds true, by and large, for the Greek shipyard sector, which must also be maintained and developed for defensive reasons.
With regard to the new tools of contractual arrangements and solidarity mechanisms, which constitute a chapter of the Conclusions, we want to stress that these mechanisms are of very great importance when they deepen the Economic and Monetary Union, but not in order to function as miniature memoranda for all the countries, or as mechanisms for imposing austerity policies; only if they function as mechanisms for bolstering the real economy and employment. From this point of view, it is very important that all the countries – including those following adjustment programmes – be able to participate in these mechanisms.
Finally, with regard to migration flows, which are an important priority for the upcoming Hellenic and Italian Presidencies, as well as for all the Mediterranean countries – and given that this is a humanitarian issue, as well as a matter of security for all of Europe – it is of vital importance to strengthen the role of the Commission, which we call upon to submit the relevant Reports, systematically, to every meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, as well as to every meeting of the General Affairs Council, regarding the implementation of the decisions taken on the level of the European Council and the Foreign Affairs Council.”
December 17, 2013