Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Friday addressed the June European leaders’ summit, which wraps up Greece’s six-month stint in the EU presidency, amid warm praise from European officials on a successful and productive term.

In his address to the summit, PM Samaras referred to the main achievements of Greece’s presidency, based on the priorities that had been set out and which included deepening economic and monetary union, enhanching employment and growth and measures on migration and marine policy. He stressed that 67 legislative texts had been completed during Greece’s term and political consensus brokered at Council level on another 15, including those on money laundering and financing terrorism.

He received congratulations from European officials, led by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and, according to sources, Greece’s presidency was judged particularly successful, while Mr. Rompuy said Greece had done well, despite the difficult conditions prevailing in the country and Europe.