Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos today participated in a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council (GAC) and observed the preparatory meeting of Socialists Democrats (S D) European Affairs Ministers. Addressing the meeting of S D European Affairs Ministers, Mr. Katrougalos underscored the need for the debate on the new community budget to be linked with the debate on the future of Europe. Democratization and social deepening of European integration are the only path to regaining citizens’ trust in the European endeavour. Europe’s progressive forces should work together closely in this direction. In the context of the GAC, he congratulated the Bulgarian Presidency on the assumption of its duties. He stressed that Greece, as the oldest EU member in the region, will work closely with the Presidency to promote the principles of democracy and rule of law and to support the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans. To this end, a trilateral meeting was held with Bulgaria and Romania, which will hold the presidency in the first half of 2019. Regarding preparations for the March meeting of the European Council, Mr. Katrougalos reiterated the Greek Prime Minister’s proposal for the social reorientation of economic governance through the establishment of binding indicators for poverty, unemployment and inequality in the Economic Semester, and the initiation of redistributive policy means, such as taxation of international stock transactions and internet giants. Regarding the Brexit process, he mentioned his recent meeting with the UK Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, and stressed the need for similarly transparent and effective solutions in the effort towards the new UK-EU partnership.
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