Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sia Anagnostopoulou, received in her office, on Wednesday 27 February, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Athens, Kate Smith.
During the meeting, issues of bilateral interest were discussed, while emphasis was placed on the issue of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, and specifically to the measures being taken by the two countries to tackle the effects of potential withdrawal without an agreement. The Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs briefed Ms Smith on the measures that our country will take to protect the rights of British subjects living in Greece in the event of non-orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
For her part, the British Ambassador expressed the British Government's gratitude for the immediate response by Greek Authorities in terms of handling the issue at hand, and reiterated that the UK, in the context of reciprocity, will fully safeguard the rights of approximately 100,000 Greek citizens who live and work there. Nevertheless, both sides agreed that, in any event, the withdrawal agreement ensures, in the best possible way, a smooth and predictable withdrawal of the UK from the EU, and that the everybody's main objective continues to be the ratification of the Agreement before the formal withdrawal date (29/03/2019)
Mr. Douzinas, SYRIZA MP and President of Parliament's Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs also participated in the meeting.
February 28, 2019