Trade with Greece
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West divide, the Greek government launched
negotiations with countries from Africa, the
Caribbean and the Pacific, which led to the signing
of the Lomé III convention and the EEC-Andean
Community Cooperation Agreement. New allies
and new markets entered the European and inter-
national stage, with the Greek presidency being
instrumental in helping “melt the ice”. In regard to
European political cooperation, the primary con-
cern of the Greek presidency was to express, in
the best possible way, the positions of the Ten on
international problems, through the formulation
and promotion of common policies. Another
achievement was the consumer policy, which was
followed by the consumer council and the commis-
sioner for consumer protection. By achieving these
“international overtures” Greece was able to claim,
and finally obtain, an additional European budget,
in other words more resources for growth, as well
as the expansion of the EEC to new candidate
member-states.
The second presidency
In the second half of 1988, Greece assumed once
again the presidency of the EC (European
Community), as it was renamed, within an obvi-
ously improved environment, having, at the same
time, drawn a substantial share of European
funds. Inside the European Community the press-
ing problems that had emerged because of the
expansion to Spain and Portugal, as well as the
flawed implementation of fiscal regulations, were
solved through the revision of the Treaty of Rome
and the adoption of the Single European Act. The
European South stopped being marginalized.
