Countdown to the Greek Presidency of the European Union

On New Year’s Day 2014, Greece will pick up the Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, and run with it for six months. The last time Greece presided was 2003. That Presidency broke new ground: it created a new vision and new prospects for EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, and, at the same time, welcomed 10 new Member-States to the Union.

Of course, much has changed since then. The Treaty of Lisbon reduced the Presidency’s powers and shared some of them with other institutions, such as the European External Action Service and the President of the European Council. That said, the Presidency’s duties remain significant, and an effective Presidency can influence not only the result of important negotiations but also the future direction of the Union.

Although we’re still waiting for the official publication of the Presidency programme, we already know the Presidency’s main intentions. There will be three basic priorities, and a cross-cutting theme:

• Economic growth, employment, completion of the single market;
• Deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union, e.g. through the Banking Union;
• Common action to manage and tackle illegal immigration; and
• (cross-cutting) maritime issues and the sea.

There are, however, other important matters on which progress is expected during the Presidency, e.g. enlargement, EU/US free trade, and so on.

We should also not forget that the Presidency isn’t just confined to the implementation of its programme. The European Parliamentary elections, taking place from 22-25 May (different dates in different EU countries), may constitute one of the major challenges for the EU, if, as some commentators are predicting, a large part of the new Parliament consists of representatives from Europe’s extreme, nationalist parties. At the same time, horse-trading for the appointment of Commissioners in the next European Commission is expected to begin in the first half of 2014.

In this Embassy, my team and I are already preparing for the adventure ahead. We’re organising visits to Athens by Ministers and officials from the UK, included among which was a recent series of calls made by the Europe Minister, David Lidington, on the Greek PM, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Administrative Reform Minister and Europe Minister.

It’s an intensification of our efforts to explain to our Greek counterparts our own ambitions for the first six months of 2014, in the hope that we will influence their preparation of the Presidency agenda. At the top of our list are economic competitiveness, democratic accountability and institutional flexibility.

As ever, I’m interested in my readers’ views on this blog.

What do you think about the Greek plans and prospects for the Greek Presidency? Do you agree that they will influence positively the way ahead in Greece and Europe more generally?

It’s certainly the case that one of the most serious problems faced by the EU today is unemployment, particularly in Greece (27%) and above all among Greek youth (>60%). Europe’s credibility rests on its contribution to tackling this scourge. The Greek Government is, accordingly, expected to implement the new EU-funded programme for youth unemployment from 1 January.

It has the opportunity to show all of its citizens that it has the capacity to absorb effectively these European funds.

Step by step, the future Presidency is revealing its hand. You can find more information about its plans on the temporary website www.gr2014.eu.

Its official Twitter account is @gr2014eu. We’re awaiting in the next few days presentation of the Presidency logo and tie: a significant, but ever sensitive and controversial moment – as I remember from the presentation of our own logos in 1998 and 2005…