On Friday and Saturday, 8 and 9 April, the Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Nikos Xydakis, will receive, in Athens, six Ministers and Deputy Ministers of European Union member states. The purpose of the visit of European Ministers and Deputy Ministers is a practical expression of European solidarity and their being apprised with regard to the management of the migration/refugee crisis following last month’s decisions from the European Council.
The delegation is made up of Bert Koenders, the Foreign Minister of Holland and representative of the country currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union; Harlem Désir, France’s Deputy Minister for European Affairs; Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia; Sandro Gozi, Italy’s Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister for European Affairs; Margarida Marques, the Portuguese Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs; Ian Borg, Deputy Minister at Malta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for preparation for Malta’s 2017 Presidency of the Council of the EU and for management of EU funds.
The Ministers and Deputy Ministers will be received by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, paying a courtesy visit to the Maximos Mansion on Friday.
On Saturday, 9 April, talks will be held at the Foreign Ministry, with the participation of a Greek government delegation made up of the Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Nikos Xydakis, the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Thodoris Dritsas, the Alternate Minister for Migration Policy, Ioannis Mouzalas, and the Secretary General of the Defence Ministry, Ioannis Tafylis.
The Greek side will present its positions on the course of the implementation of the decisions of the European Council, the practices and operational difficulties being met and the solutions proposed for dealing with them, as well as the needs of the assistance agreed upon by the EU and the member states.
Following the talks, at about 13:30, a press conference will be held at the Foreign Ministry (Kranidiotis Hall, 1 Akadimias St.) by Mr. Xydakis and the Foreign Minister of Holland, Bert Koenders, in the presence of the other participating Ministers.
News media representatives interested in covering the visit are asked to contact the Foreign Ministry’s Information and Public Diplomacy Department (tel: 210 368 1921, 210 368 1922; email: pressof3@mfa.gr) by 15:00 on Friday, 8 April.
April 6, 2016