I
n other words, the debate on everything that
we considered a given until relatively recent-
ly; until everything was shaken by the cri-
sis.The six months of the Hellenic presidency are
also a critical time for Greece, as the indications
that we are emerging from the crisis are growing
more and more pronounced. And this is a crisis
that has cost the Greek economy a cumulative
recession of 25% of GDP, leaving hundreds of
thousands of citizens –particularly young people–
out of work.
Through the unstinting efforts and sacrifices of
the Greek people, Greece has succeeded not
only in putting its fiscal house in order, but also in
presenting the best structural –that is to say, cycli-
cally adjusted– primary surplus in the euro zone:
6% of GDP. Today, we have good grounds for
optimism that the six months of our presidency
will coincide with the moment of our turnaround,
our exit from the memorandum, and the recovery
of Greece’s real economy.
Responding to the challenges of the crisis and
increased Euroscepticism, Greece’s presidency
is focusing on promoting policies and thematic
priorities dictated by the needs of the citizens of
the Union.
The Hellenic presidency’s first priority is the pro-
motion all over Europe of policies for boosting
Trade with Greece
10
The Hellenic Presidency’s
Priorities: Launching the
Great Debate
By Evangelos Venizelos, Deputy Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister
As of 1 January, Greece holds the current
Presidency of the Council of the European
Union, at a time when Europe is struggling
to overcome the economic crisis and is
launching the great debate over what is
really at stake in the upcoming European
Parliament elections: the debate on the need
to safeguard the European social model, rule
of law, and institutional equality among
member states.
