1. Priorities of the future Greek EU Presidency
MISSOC Network Meeting
Vilnius October 2013
Correspondents:
Karolina Kirinčić-Andritsou
Sotiria Papaioannou 1

2. 1 January June 2014
Greece is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the EU during a critical transitional period for Europe.
The economic crisis forced the adoption of restrictive fiscal policy in order to preserve the financial stability and to improve the economy. 2

3. The impact of the crisis
The extent and the intensity of the crisis and the resulting recession and unemployment undermined the confidence of a significant number of European citizens in the ability of European edifice to implement credible and effective policy for a return to prosperity, economic recovery and high level of employment.
The social cohesion was affected. 3

4. The Greece and Europe are invited to:
meet the challenge of the economic crisis
safeguard the common currency through the deepening of EMU, while promoting policies to confront recession and unemployment by stimulating growth.
Also, the elections for new members of the European Parliament are an additional factor that defines the Greek Presidency. 4

5. Priorities of the Greek Presidency
EU Council
(first semester 2014)
I. Growth – Jobs - Cohesion
ΙI. Further integration of European Union and Eurozone
ΙΙΙ. Migration, borders, mobility 5

6. Growth-Jobs-Cohesion
The growth because:
The unemployment reaches historically high rate,
affecting in particular the young people
The recession threatens European economies
The benefits will be achieved on economic, social and political level
Jobs and Growth are closely linked
The "jobless growth“ should be avoided
There is a need to achieve balance between the two policies: a) growth and b) fiscal consolidation 6

7. We seek and recommend:
Balancing the fiscal consolidation schedule with the implementation of a reinforced Compact for Growth and Jobs, which can be transformed into a diverse European investment program
The EIB may have a strong role in relation to the labor-intensive projects with the support of the ECB
The interim evaluation of the "Europe 2020 Strategy" at the Spring European Council 2014 could provide an opportunity for specific initiatives. 7

8. Further integration of EU - Eurozone
The emphasis will be given to:
The promotion of the banking union, which is an essential element for the better functioning of EMU and the condition for strengthening the confidence in the European economy.
The agreement on the principles of fiscal and economic union, with respect to the Common Market, which is open to all member states.
The social dimension of the Eurozone, in response to demographic and fiscal/budgetary crisis of the European welfare state. 8

9. Migrations, Borders and Mobility
The Greek Presidency will focus its efforts to bring all aspects of immigration policy, with parallel actions to mitigate impact of illegal immigration, on the economic, social and political level.
EU Global Approach to Migration - dialogue and cooperation with non-EU countries.
Objectives:
improving and organizing legal migration and
under the policy of assisted (labour) mobility,
avoidance of illegal immigration in an efficient and humane
manner,
c) strengthening the links between migration and development. 9

10. Emphasis is given to the measures to:
Combat illegal immigration
Combat human trafficking
Build institutional capacity for management of borders
The Greek Presidency will promote the implementation of the Common European Asylum System, with emphasis on measures to:
strengthen solidarity among member states,
respect the obligations arising from international treaties and EU laws,
cooperate with international organizations and NGOs. 10

11. Maritime Policies - The Sea
Greece, as a traditionally maritime country, understands and recognizes the dynamics and opportunities arising from maritime activities for the overall economy of the Union. Of particular importance is the management of the security problems related to borders of the Union at sea.
A horizontal thematic of the Greek Presidency, which runs through all three of the presidency’s priorities, concerns the EU maritime policy. The central idea is to reboot and redefine the Maritime Policy, encompassing all of its aspects. 11

12. Thank you for your attention.
Actions to be taken:
the Integrated Maritime Policy for creating growth and jobs in the marine and maritime sectors, Maritime Spatial Planning, the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, the Water Security Strategy, the Marine and Coastal Tourism, Migration by Sea.
Our aim is to cooperate closely with all Partners that share the same strategic interests and to promote strategies and policies that will benefit all EU member states. The Sea is an area of privilege in terms of knowledge and action for Greece, and it is an inexhaustible source of growth and prosperity for the whole of Europe.
Thank you for your attention. 12