Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos delivered the following address at the event honoring sponsor-companies for their support of the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the European Union:
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Hellenic Presidency, as we have said many times, is an excellent opportunity for the Greece of the crisis, the Greece of sacrifices that the Greek people have undergone in recent years and, unfortunately, are still undergoing, to show to Europe and the world a new face, its ordinary face. The face of an institutionally equal member state of the European Union that, as provided for by the treaties, is exercising the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the fifth time since joining the European family in 1981.
Of course, this is an opportunity not just for the government, not just for the state and its institutions, but it is also a wonderful opportunity for the Greek private sector, for the Greek economy, for Greek enterprises. It is a wonderful opportunity for the whole of Greek society, for the NGOs.
We often hear the question of whether it is possible for the Greece that is in tough negotiations with the troika, the Greece of the crisis, the Greece that has to complete and is now completing the adjustment programme, as we now have the great achievement of the primary surplus – how it is possible, at the same time, for Greece to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and speak on behalf of all the member states.
But this is the essence of European integration. When the principle of the equality of the member states is violated or infringed, the core of the sovereignty of the member states is compromised. Thus, the peoples, the societies, do not support the idea of European integration. In the end, it compromises the interests of all the member states and of all European citizens.
The Presidency we are organizing is a frugal Presidency, with a limited budget by comparison to European standards. The expenditure the state is incurring is small, but not negligible in the context of a tight state budget. It is an expense that has concerned us a great deal, and we wanted to limit it as much as possible.
Of course, before our partners who are helping us, and in order to ensure our equal standing, we need to pay some costs, but operating costs that are as low as possible.
I am very pleased that Greek enterprises, Greek banks, the private sector – in the context of its awareness, in the context of the principles of corporate social responsibility, and in the context of corporate vision, as is appropriate to the business world, perceived that the Hellenic Presidency is a very important investment for the state and for the Greek economy.
And thus the private sector hastened to assist us, using the institution of sponsorship, which is an international institution, a acclaimed institution, functional, mutually beneficial for the sponsor and the sponsored institution, which in this case is the state itself, in a very important European and international activity: the Hellenic Presidency.
Thus we were able to meet major needs. We limited public expenditure and moved together in a partnership between the public and private sectors. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, to whom we will refer by name presently, but in general I want to thank our sponsors, because without them we would not have the readiness, the flexibility, the ability to meet the deadlines, and we wouldn’t be able to show our European family this universal mobilization of our country’s forces during these difficult six months.
Why are these six months difficult? Are they difficult because we hold the Presidency? That’s the least of it. They are difficult because these are the six months of our definitive exit from the crisis and the memorandum.
We will never cease to be in the Eurozone’s discipline and supervisory institutions. This is the case for the 18 countries of the Eurozone and the 28 countries of the European Union. But this is one thing, and it is another to have a special status that essentially calls into question your equal standing in the Eurozone and in the European Union.
So now we are able to confirm the completion of our effort, which is an effort of the Greek people.
With these thoughts I truly want to thank you and, through you, the agencies and businesses you represent for responding with very great social and national sensitivity to our request that you help us organize the Hellenic Presidency. Already, the first impressions are positive.
The Greek government’s meeting with the European Commission at Zappeion, an historic building linked with the history of the revival of the Olympic Games, was successful on 8 January. I think the opening ceremony gave the measure and proportions of the Hellenic Presidency, and the first Councils, the first meetings, our first appearances in the Committees and the Plenary of the European Parliament project the profile of a serious, professional, responsible handling of the matter.
Now that things are under way, we can see the value of the sponsorships on all the issues. We have met very important needs in the most respectable and best manner. And once again I would truly like to thank you and to underscore that you, too, and the groups of companies that you represent, feel the satisfaction that you are helping with something tangible, direct and specific that is getting results.
It is getting results for the country’s image, and thus for the country’s credibility, and this means a lot for the stance that is being formulated on our country, not just by our institutional partners, states and international organizations, but also by the international private sector.
The international private sector, like the Greek private sector, is more visionary, with a quicker reaction time. It sees the change that has taken place in Greece, it is investing in Greece. And when I say it is investing in Greece, I mean in the real economy, I mean in the financial sphere, I mean in the evaluation of our fiscal achievements.
I express my gratitude, my thanks, our satisfaction and, of course, our readiness to continue – through the institution of sponsorship and social responsibility – this collaboration between the state and the private sector. Between the state and the market, in the broader sense of the term, because you represent not just the boards and the shareholders of the enterprises and groups, but also the large number of employees at your enterprises, in the Greek banking system, in other large enterprises in the private sector. This is very important, because our thanks and the tribute we are paying you goes to you, individually, of course, to those who worked hard so we could succeed in organizing the Presidency well, and of course to all the employees at your companies, to all the personnel in the family of your enterprises and groups.
Once again, my warm thanks.”
January 28, 2014