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The priorities of the Greek EU Presidency

For the first six months of 2014 it is Greece’s turn to chair the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which oversees the meeting of national ministers over EU policies. The Greek Presidency will oversee the period leading up to the elections of a new European Parliament in May 2014. It will also be making the necessary preparations for the half-time review of the Europe 2020 strategy, which will begin in spring 2014. The Greek Presidency has set a number of priority actions which it will push forward in the coming months.

Growth, jobs, cohesion

The Greek economy is still in crisis. Eurostat figures (from September 2013) show that over 27% of Greeks are unemployed. In August last year youth unemployment also hit a record high of 65%. Therefore it is perhaps no surprise that the main objective of the Greek Presidency will be to promote job-creating growth policies in Europe. This will mean finding ways to bring improvement to the negative employment trend in many Member States. The Greeks will look at opportunities to speed up the implementations of the EU’s Youth Employment Initiative, as well as monitoring the progress of Youth Guarantee Schemes which will aim to ensure that every unemployed young person under the age of 25 is guaranteed a job, a training programme or an apprenticeship. To support this process, the EU will adopt a Recommendation on quality framework for traineeships which will set guidelines to ensure trainees are able to acquire high-quality work in Member States.

Social dimension of the EMU

In a communication released in October last year the European Commission emphasised the need to strengthen the social dimension of the EU’s Monetary Union (EMU). The Greek Presidency will take forward this approach by ensuring that the Eurozone agenda considers social implications of the EU’s monetary policies, including the need to create adequate and sustainable social protection systems and ensure minimum safety nets. For the first time the EU will be using the 2014 European Semester cycle to monitor more systematically the impact of fiscal consolidation policies on the labour market and social situation in Member States.

Migration, borders, mobility

Instability at Europe’s periphery and the general persistence of immigration flow to the EU has placed increased pressure on Member States. Under the Greek Presidency national ministers will discuss the opportunities and challenges of comprehensive migration management in the EU:
- developing migration policies which correspond to the demands of national labour markets
- adopting policies for fostering social cohesion and combating racism and xenophobia in the Member States
- persisting with policies to ensure the integration of third country citizens in European host societies
- raise awareness of the impact of migration on health systems by highlighting the added-value of the enhanced cooperation between the EU Member States

Below you can find a list of events which will be taking place during the Greek Presidency:

  • Horizon 2020 Workshop and Partnering Event, 4-5 February, Brussels

  • European Social Fund Launch Conference for 2014-2020 programming period, 6-7 February, Brussels

  • Debate on future of Europe, European Year of Citizens, 10 February, London

  • Conference for Mayors on EU Mobility at Local Level, 11 February, Brussels

  • European Summit of Regions and Cities, Committee of Regions, 7-8 March, Athens

  • European Youth Conference, 10 March, Thessaloniki

 

Resources

Find out more on the Greek EU Presidency website

 

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