A meeting of European Affairs Ministers and top officials of the European Parliament and the Party of European Socialists (PES) will take place in Athens, on 10 September.
The meeting is a follow-up to a similar meeting of European Socialist ministers that took place on 15 July, in Rome – a meeting to which Greek ministers Nikos Pappas and Nikos Xydakis were invited. The participants aspire to contribute to the shaping of common positions on a Europe that is progressive, with a social profile, ahead of the informal European Council of Bratislava and the major challenges facing the EU.
The issues to be considered at the meeting include the European Union following the Brexit referendum, policies for upgrading the EU, deepening of integration, combatting youth unemployment, protection of labor and social rights, equitable development, dealing with the refugee and migration issue, security and EU foreign policy, and active connection of citizens with the EU’s institutions.
The meeting is being held within the framework of the multifaceted diplomatic initiative the Greek government has undertaken: The Euro-Mediterranean Summit Meeting is taking place in Athens, on 9 September, at the invitation of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and the Rhodes Conference on Security and Stability in the Mediterranean is taking place on 8 and 9 September, on the initiative of Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias.
Alternate Foreign Minister Nikos Xydakis’ guests in Athens for the meeting of Socialist European Affairs Ministers will include French Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Désir, German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth, Italian Under-Secretary for European Affairs Sandro Gozi, Portuguese Secretary of State of European Affairs Margarida Marques, the Secretary General of Malta’s 2017 EU Presidency, Ian Borg, and European Parliament Vice-President Dimitris Papadimoulis. Minister of State Nikos Pappas will also be participating on behalf of the Greek government. The Swedish Social Democratic Party will be represented by MP Marie Granloud. The PES will be represented by the Vice-Chair of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Enrique Guerrero Salom, PES Deputy Secretary Yonnec Pollet, and, on behalf of the PES Secretariat, Elli Chrysanthakopoulou.
The meeting will take place at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, at the Faliron Delta.
August 27, 2016