“The Greek Presidency constitutes a major national challenge that transcends parties, political factions and dividing lines,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Hatzivasileiou during his remarks at a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs on Tuesday afternoon, focused on preparations for Greece’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027.

Mr Hatzivasileiou stressed that the Greek Presidency represents an important milestone not only for the European Union but also for Greece. He noted that preparations are already fully underway, with systematic coordination by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Interministerial Working Group and the relevant ministries.

He added that Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has full oversight of the process, while noting that preparations so far had been successfully led by Alexandra Papadopoulou.

Referring to the joint programme of the Ireland–Lithuania–Greece trio of EU Presidencies, the Deputy Foreign Minister said that it has already been completed and presented in June, with three main themes:

• A free and democratic Europe
• A strong and secure Europe
• A prosperous and competitive Europe

As he explained, each member state subsequently defines its own priorities, taking into account the flow of European legislative work and the constantly changing international environment.

Mr Hatzivasileiou presented the six main areas on which the Greek Presidency is expected to focus:

• Security and defence
• Competitiveness
• Resilience
• Enlargement
• A comprehensive approach to migration
• An integrated maritime policy and maritime security

Concluding his remarks, the Deputy Foreign Minister underlined the need for coordination and cross-party cooperation, noting that the parliamentary dimension of the Presidency has a distinct and important role.

As he stated, the success of the Greek Presidency will require the valuable support of all sides, as it represents a high-responsibility national undertaking.