“Two hundred years ago, we decided to look to the West. Forty years ago, we became an intrinsic part of the western world, and we now have before us a debate on what we want the European Union’s future to be like,” was Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis’ message during today’s briefing of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on European Affairs regarding the ‘Conference on the Future of Europe’. Mr. Varvitsiotis made special reference to Konstantinos Karamanlis and his timeless message that “Greece is an intrinsic part of the European acquis; there is no Europe without Greece and no Greece without Europe,” with today’s Committee session, falling on the anniversary of the national leader’s death. In his speech, the Alternate Minister emphasised the role national parliaments are being called upon to play in the Europe-wide debate. Greece, he said, will participate actively in the Conference on the Future of Europe, with May marking the start of an open and broad dialogue in which the political parties, local administration, the academic community, the Church and citizens – especially young citizens – are expected to participate. Referring to his undertaking responsibility for Greece’s participation, Mr. Varvitsiotis underscored that “it is an honour to play this role. I am doing so following our Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the European Council – the first digital chairmanship.” Regarding the challenges Europe faced in the past year, the Alternate Minister pointed out that the European Union took courageous steps through European vaccination, while the Recovery Fund is a “bold package that, for the first time, makes Europe itself the lender for its members.” Mr. Varvitsiotis also stressed that, in contrast with past debates on institutional issues, the pandemic led to “real concerns moving to the forefront,” and that “it was revealed through this year of great pressure that we have a great deal to discuss regarding where we want Europe to go, what we want Europe’s place in the world to be, what Europe’s relationship with its citizens should be like.” Ahead of the Conference on the Future of Europe, which will be officially launched in Strasbourg on 9 May – and in Greece on 27 May, in a special event at Zappeion – the Alternate Minister underscored Greece’s 6+1 key priorities: current security challenges, migration, social cohesion policies, ‘Digital Europe’, environment and climate change, and, of course, the rule of law. He referred in particular, to the very positive European Commission’s report on the reforms that have been undertaken, especially by the Mitsotakis government, over the past year, in the framework of responding to corruption and ensuring good legislation. In his second remarks, responding to a Syriza MP who raised the issue of treaty revisions, Mr. Varvitsiotis stressed that Greece has a clear and firm position in favour of safeguarding the right to veto in the European Council, as enshrined in the European Treaties. He added that Greece is in favour of equal participation for each country, on exactly the same terms, regardless of a country's size. He challenged anyone with a different view, and in particular the main opposition party, to state this view clearly to the Greek people, so that they know what kind of Europe we are discussing: a Europe of equal participation or a Europe of ‘majorities’. Finally, the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs referred to Greece's firm strategy of addressing the issue of insularity, as well as our country’s need to contribute to the Conference with a serious perspective on Europe’s role in the face of external security challenges, as in the case of relations with Turkey.
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