Greece takes over Presidency of the European Union, January 2003

Greece took over the rotating Presidency of the European Union from Denmark on 1 January 2003 with the message "Our Europe. We share a future in a community of values".

Greece will preside over what promises to be an historic period in the lifetime of the European Union with the signing of the accession treaties with ten countries scheduled for 16 April 2003 in Athens. But with the real work of the enlargement process completed at the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002, issues such as the reunification of Cyprus, the economy, immigration and foreign policy are likely to head the agenda of the Greek presidency.

Background

Greece became a member of the European Union in 1981, just seven years after the end of the Colonels' dictatorship. Over the years it has succeeded in closing the GDP gap with the rest of the EU and in implementing the necessary economic reforms to allow it to join the single currency on 1 January 2001. Whilst the accession of ten new Member States means that it will have to fight harder to receive EU's structural and cohesion funds, enlargement should bring benefits to Greece in terms of increased stability and market opening in its Balkans negotiations.

More information on Greece can be found in European Sources Online's Topic Guide: Information on Greece.

The 2003 Presidency marks the fourth time (previously held the Presidency in 1983, 1988 and 1994) that Greece has held the Presidency since its accession to the EU. Depending on the outcome of discussions in the European Convention and the yet to be convened Intergovernmental Conference on the future of the European Union and its institutions, it could also be the last time that Greece holds the rotating Presidency of the EU. There is currently widespread support amongst the larger EU Member States such as France, Spain, the United Kingdom and Germany for abolishing the rotating system and replacing it with a permanent President of the European Council who would serve for several years. Although the smaller Member States have expressed their opposition to the idea of a "European President" the future of the rotating system is certainly in doubt.

However, with no decision likely to be taken before 2004 and the time needed to implement any changes, the schedule of rotating Presidencies that has been agreed up to 2009 is likely to remain the same. It is as follows:

The 2003 Greek Presidency Programme

The Greek Presidency work programme is based on five priority areas:

1. Enlargement
2. The Lisbon goals
3. Immigration
4. The Future of Europe
5. The EU's foreign policy

Although most of the work concerning the accession of ten new Member States was completed at the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002, Greece has made it clear that it is keen to make progress in the accession negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania, which are expected to join in 2007. It is also keen to encourage Turkey's efforts to implement the European Commission's recommendations to strengthen democracy and improve human rights. Many hope that increased co-operation between Turkey and Greece may also help to resolve the issue of a divided Cyprus. Greece is also expected to push for increased co-operation with the Balkans through co-operation agreements that would mean the removal of trade barriers.

In order to achieve the Lisbon goal of making the EU the world's most dynamic knowledge-based and competitive economy by 2010, Greece has decided to put a number of related initiatives at the top of its agenda. These include the adoption by the European Council of the Green Paper on Entrepreneurship and increased efforts to accelerate the implementation of the European charter for small businesses and to simplify the regulatory framework. The Greek Presidency also intends to increase investment in research and technology, to adopt the Community patent, to put emphasis on the reform of education and training systems, to promote further integration in the energy, transport, and financial services markets, to revise the European employment strategy and to improve the qualititative aspects of work. Objectives for further progress on sustainable development will be set at the Spring European Council, which for the first time will be held in Brussels rather than the country hosting the Presidency.

Following on from the progress achieved during the Spanish Presidency and the decisions taken at the Seville European Council in June 2002, the Greek Presidency has three specific objectives to pursue in the area of justice and home affairs. These are:

• Strengthening external borders
• Combating illegal immigration
• Combating terrorism and organised crime

Greece is expected to work closely with the European Commission towards the establishment of the European Observatory on Migration, although this may not be achieved before the end of the Presidency.

During the course of the Greek Presidency, the Convention on the Future of Europe is expected to draft its proposals on the EU's future, all of which should have been submitted to the European Council by the time it meets in Thessalonica in June 2003. The Convention's recommendations are expected to form the basis of the next Intergovernmental Conference which is due to be launched towards the end of 2003 or early in 2004.

Beyond the EU's borders, the Greek Presidency is hoping to further develop relations between the EU and its southern neighbouring countries in the Balkans, the Mediterranean area and the Middle-east as well as increased co-operation with Russia and the countries of the Black Sea.

In addition to the five key areas where the Greek Presidency has outlined its priorities, it will also push ahead with work in many other spheres. In the field of environment it hopes to launch discussions on latest Commission proposals, such as that for a revised Directive on bathing water and new proposals for chemical legislation. Whilst in the area of research the Greek presidency hopes to adopt a plan to increase overall research spending to 3% of GDP by 2010. The progress of the Software Patents Directive and the Enforcement Directive will head the agenda in the telecoms and information society sector whilst air transport , and in particular the creation of the Transatlantic Common Aviation Area, will provide the focus in the transport field.

As with any EU Member State hosting the Presidency, Greece has certainly set itself an ambitious, clearly eager to record a successful and productive Presidency. As Georges Papandreou, Greek Foreign Minister, said:

"2002 has been a momentum year for the European Union. 2003 could prove to be equally important".

By the time EU leaders gather in Thessalonica on 20 June 2002 for the Summer European Council the achievements of the Greek Presidency should be clear. It will then be up to Italy to take over the Presidency for the rest of 2003.

Further information within European Sources Online:

European Sources Online: Topic Guides
	Information on European countries: Greece
European Sources Online: In Focus
	Denmark takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, July 2002
	Greece and the euro, August 2002
European Sources Online: Financial Times
	30.12.02:	Cyprus deal at head of Greek agenda
	02.01.03:	Miffed Greeks

Further information can be seen in these external links:
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EU Institutions

The Greek Presidency of the European Union
	Homepage
		Priorities of the Greek Presidency
		Roles and duties of the Presidency
		Enlargement
		Vade Mecum of the Greek Presidency
		Message of Foreign Minister George A. Papandreou marking Greece's taking on of the Presidency of the European Union
The Greek Presidency of the Eurogroup
	Homepage
The European Convention
	Homepage
National Organisations
Greece: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
	The Greek Presidency of the EU
Greece: Permanent Representation to the European Union
	Homepage
		The Priorities of the Greek Presidency
		Programme: January - March 2003
		Programme: April - June 2003
		Declaration of the Prime Minister on ESDP
Miscellaneous Organisations
The Centre for European Policy Studies
	Homepage
	The Future of Europe Convention - Travelling hopefully? [June 2002]

News Organisations

BBC News Online
	Country profile: Greece
	Timeline: Greece
	17.12.02:	EU foreign policy set for Greek boost

Helen Bower

4 January 2003

Overview of the aims of the Greek government during its Presidency of the European Union from January-June 2003.