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Last General Affairs Council under Greek Presidency concludes in Luxembourg (24.06.2014)

kkalantzopoulou — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 16:52:42 +0000

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The last General Affairs Council under the Greek Presidency, chaired by Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, took place today (24.06.2014) in Luxembourg.

The Council decided to grant Albania EU candidate status, subject to endorsement by the European Council. Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos welcomed the decision: “We are sending a message of friendship, cooperation to Albania, to the Albanian government, to the Albanian political system, and we are certain that our Albanian friends understand that there is an institutional and political frame of reference. This frame of reference is the Copenhagen political criteria, respect for the European acquis, respect for international law, including the principle of good neighbourly relations. This message is a joint message of the 28 member states of the European Union and of the European Commission. I believe that this will be capitalized on in the best possible manner, so that at some point, as soon as possible, the accession negotiations can begin”.

Furthermore, on the initiative of the Greek Presidency, the Council endorsed an EU maritime security strategy as a framework for effectively and comprehensively addressing the EU's maritime security challenges.

The objective is to secure the EU's maritime security interests against risks and threats in the global maritime domain, such as cross-border and organised crime, threats to freedom of navigation, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or environmental risks. The strategy covers both internal and external aspects of the Union's maritime security in a cross-sectorial and comprehensive approach.

“I wholeheartedly welcome the adoption of the EU Maritime Security Strategy, which was one of the Hellenic Presidency's key priorities. This Strategy constitutes a significant step forward in safeguarding the EU's maritime security interests against a plethora of risks and threats in the global maritime domain, in accordance with the fundamental values and principles of the EU, including respect for international law and, in particular, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea”, underlined Evangelos Venizelos.

The Council also adopted a decision on the rules and procedures for the implementation of the solidarity clause (article 222 of the Treaty on Functioning of the EU). The solidarity clause provides for the Union and its member states to act jointly in assisting another member state being the subject of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster.

Finally, the Council made preparations for the next European Council meeting, which will take place on 26 and 27 June, and held an exchange of views via video link with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy. The European Council will focus in particular on the economy, including growth, competitiveness and jobs, the area of freedom, security and justice as well as energy and climate.

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Meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC), Luxembourg 24.06.2014

General Affairs Council (Luxembourg, 24.06.2014)

ielmatzoglou — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 05:49:45 +0000

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The General Affairs Council, chaired by Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, is taking place today (24.06.2014) in Luxembourg.

The Council will discuss enlargement and the stabilisation and association process, in particular whether to grant candidate status to Albania. It will then turn to the Presidency report on the implementation of European Council conclusions, before discussing the preparations for the upcoming European Council meeting on 26-27 June, on the basis of draft conclusions.

The Council is expected to approve the integrated country specific recommendations under the European Semester for transmission to the June European Council. Minsters will also adopt an EU maritime security strategy as well as discuss the EU strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region, on the basis of a presentation by the Commission.

Finally, the Council is expected to endorse the 18-month programme of the Council (1 July 2014 - 30 December 2015).

A presidency press conference for GAC will be held at +/- 16.00 (CET).

In the margin of the General Affairs Council the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Council will be held in the afternoon, starting at 16.30, with a separate press conference at +/-18.15.

Live broadcasting will be available here from 08:00 (CET)

Important agreement on the new nuclear safety Directive achieved

mvaroucha — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 08:17:23 +0000

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A commonly accepted, by the member states and the European Commission, agreement on the text amending the Community framework for nuclear safety (2009/71/EURATOM) was endorsed today by the Permanent Representatives Committee of the Council. The agreement for this new Directive was reached under the Greek Presidency, after delicate and strenuous negotiation, since the safety of nuclear installations is for member states an important matter of national sovereignty.

The new Directive puts safety on the spot, taking into account lessons learned from past nuclear accidents and international cooperation. For the first time a legally binding “safety objective” is set in the regulatory framework for nuclear installations in Europe, existing or new ones. The new nuclear safety architecture (a) provides that member states implement a regulatory framework requiring accident prevention, and should an accident occur, mitigating the consequences of radioactive releases (b) reinforces crucial components of the nuclear safety system, such as the independent role and function of the regulatory authorities, the safety peer reviews mechanism and the promotion of safety culture.

Specifically, the Directive:

• introduces higher standards for nuclear safety in Europe, as it requires that member states take prevention measures for any type of accident, no matter how much unlikely may be considered,

• introduces topical peer reviews of the nuclear installations throughout Europe every six years, in coordination among member states. The first topical peer review is scheduled for 2017,

• requires operators to have infrastructure and suitable arrangements for accident management and emergency response,

• requires the strengthening of the role, function and effective independence of the regulatory authorities,

• introduces for member states the legal requirement to promote and enhance nuclear safety culture,

• introduces requirements on transparency, public information, public participation and cooperation between member states, nuclear and non-nuclear, in the vicinity of nuclear installations.

The Chairman of the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (EEAE), Christos Housiadas, commented: "The Greek Presidency managed to achieve what six months ago seemed extremely difficult: a new European agreement on the framework ruling the safety of nuclear installations in Europe. An agreement that demonstrates the reflexes of the EU and its member states to the universal request for not having in Europe a nuclear accident. All member states, nuclear and non-nuclear, had an equal opportunity to participate in this negotiation, as the consequences of nuclear accidents do not stop at borders."

The amendment of the current framework for nuclear safety was proposed by the European Commission in the wake of the nuclear accident in Fukushima and the stress tests conducted at nuclear power plants in Europe in the period 2011-2012.

General Affairs (GAC)

An in-depth discussion of the results of the European elections at the Informal EU General Affairs Council (Athens, 30 May 2014)

pmastroperrou — Fri, 30 May 2014 16:15:54 +0000

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Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas chaired today’s Informal EU General Affairs Council, which was hosted by the Greek Presidency in the wake of the European elections.

The proceedings of the Informal General Affairs Council began with a recommendation from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos regarding the recent elections for the Members of European Parliament.

The proceedings included an in-depth discussion of the results of the European elections and the political conclusions that will be borne in mind by the European organs – and the Council in particular – for the further charting of Europe’s course. Specifically, there was a discussion of issues related to the cooperation among the various European institutions (European Council, European Parliament, European Commission) and the role of the General Affairs Council as an organ that coordinates the other Council configurations.

Also underscored by many Ministers was the need to chart the new policy of the European organs, which must bear seriously in mind the messages the citizens of Europe sent with their votes last week. Growth and job creation – and particularly the problem of youth unemployment – remain high on the agenda.

On the margins of the Informal Council, Mr. Kourkoulas met with his Italian counterpart, Sandro Gozi, as Italy is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2014, and they discussed issues concerning coordination of the two Presidencies.

General Affairs (GAC)

Informal EU General Affairs Council (Athens, 30.05.2014)

ekampaki — Fri, 30 May 2014 06:10:11 +0000

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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos will give the opening address at the informal EU General Affairs Council being held today (30.05.2014) at Zappeion Megaron in Athens.

The General Affairs Council, chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas, will look at, among other things, issues concerning the prospect of achieving an inter-institutional agreement between the main organs of the European Union, as well as the issue of enhancing the General Affairs Council’s role within the European Union.

Following the Council proceedings, at about 13:30, Mr Kourkoulas will hold a press conference.

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10 years after 2004: EU commemorates its largest enlargement

mvaroucha — Tue, 13 May 2014 15:01:04 +0000

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During today’s General Affairs Council (GAC), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Evangelos Venizelos in Brussels, an event marking the 10th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement that brought 10 new countries to the European Union took place.

Addressing the event the Greek DPM and FM Venizelos stressed: “The accession of the Ten in 2004, and the three subsequent accessions which we have witnessed since then, has expanded the Union from 15 to 28 Member States. This unique achievement embodies much of what the Union stands for: the overcoming of centuries of conflict, the transcending of former divisions in Europe and our will to build a common future, based on cooperation, solidarity, respect for diversity and mutual understanding.”

He also noted that “the transition from 15 to 25 (and then 28) has turned out remarkably well. The very fact that the presence of all our countries here today seems so completely ‘normal’ that most of us probably take it for granted without further reflection, is actually a very clear indication that enlargement really is a true success story.”

Concluding, Mr Venizelos pointed out that “one of the most important lessons learned from our shared history is that by continuing to work together, by promoting and upholding our core Union values, reaching forward towards common goals, we will all be better poised to confront the challenges which we face, both today and in the future: Together.”

Watch the video of the event here

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Meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC), Brussels 13.05.2014

General Affairs Council (Brussels, 13.5.2014)

zchristidou — Tue, 13 May 2014 06:05:54 +0000

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The General Affairs Council (GAC), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Evangelos Venizelos, took place today (13.5.2014), in Brussels.

The Council discussed the preparations for the European Council meeting on 26-27 June and took note of a draft annotated agenda, with focus on, among other things, growth, competitiveness and jobs; freedom, security and justice; specific issues in light of developments on the international scene.

In addition, Venizelos was the keynote speaker at an event marking the 10th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement that brought 10 new countries to the European Union.

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EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Conference: Presidency Statement (Thessaloniki, 8.5.2014)

ekampaki — Thu, 08 May 2014 11:56:50 +0000

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An EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Conference was hosted by the Greek Presidency of the Council on 8 May, in Thessaloniki. Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle, Ministers for Foreign and EU Affairs from Member States and the Western Balkans, as well as senior officials from the EEAS and the European Commission participated at the Conference. Representatives of financial institutions and regional organisations attended the conference as well. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos chaired the event, which consisted of two sessions.

Read below the full text of the Presidency Statement.

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pchoros — Wed, 07 May 2014 13:36:31 +0000

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Within the framework of the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a Conference of the Foreign Ministers of the 28 EU member states and the countries of the Western Balkans is being held in Thessaloniki on Thursday, 8 May 2014. The Conference will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.

On the eve of the Ministerial Conference, Wednesday, 7 May, at the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace, Mr. Venizelos will
• have a bilateral meeting, at 16:30, with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin.
• have a bilateral meeting, at 17:30, with Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean.

A trilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Romania and Bulgaria will take place at 18:30.

Watch live here and here

General Affairs (GAC)

GAC meeting in view of spring European Council

ekampaki — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 06:59:34 +0000

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The General Affairs Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Evangelos Venizelos, is taking place in Brussels today (18.3.2014).

The Council will discuss preparations for the European Council on 20-21 March (draft European Council conclusions), a Synthesis report on the 2014 European Semester exercise, as well as a Communication on the Rule of Law Mechanism.

Live broadcast will be available here from 08:45 (CET)

Today's General Affairs Council looked at the preparations for the European Council meeting on 20-21 March, which will discuss issues related to growth, competitiveness, jobs, energy and climate, the situation in Ukraine and the EU-Africa relations.

The Council also focused on the presidency synthesis report on the 2014 European Semester Exercise which gives a broad picture of the steps necessary to implement the Europe 2020 strategy. Finally, ministers discussed a Commission’s communication on the rule of law, while over lunch had an exchange of views on the principle of subsidiarity.

Find below the video of the Press conference held after the meeting.

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