Trade with Greece
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the fourth enlargement, but also the launching of
new aspects of the European Union’s external rela-
tions. The most important results of that Summit
were the following:
●Improvement of the situation in regard to
employment.
●Measures for fully utilizing the potential of small
and medium-sized enterprises.
●Measures for promoting programmes on informa-
tion technologies and industrial technologies.
●An agreement for eleven plans in the fields of
transport and energy.
●Establishment of a permanent coordinating body
for the development of the information society.
●Promotion of a new type of growth, aimed at
improving the quality of life.
A rather crucial sector, which the third Greek
presidency successfully handled, was that of jus-
tice and internal affairs, one of the most interest-
ing developments introduced by the Maastricht
treaty in the integration process at that time.
For the first time it was possible to establish a co-
operation framework, in areas of particular sensitiv-
ity for both the state and the citizen, which concern
the free movement of persons, the security of EU
citizens, as well as police and judicial cooperation.
Wishing to make a meaningful contribution to
shaping the new institutional identity of the activi-
ties of the third pillar of the European Union, the
Greek presidency sought to speed up the imple-
mentation of the Dublin convention and the creation
of Europol.
This way it contributed to the fight against inter-
national organized crime and drug trafficking,
which had taken nightmarish proportions in the
past 15 years.
The fourth presidency
In January 2003, Greece assumed the presiden-
cy for a fourth time, this time within a euro envi-
ronment, i.e. in an environment of full monetary
integration. Apart from national priorities, it was
responsible for the enlargement of the EU to the
west Balkans, breaking all stereotypes. Along
with the draft European Constitution, it also
signed the pre-accession agreements for 10 can-
didate member states, expanding the European
horizon for good. “You are a model for the effec-
tiveness of medium-size countries in exercising
the presidency” – this was one of the praising
remarks made by European leaders in regard to
Greece’s contribution, during the Summit that
was held in Thessaloniki in June 2003. In 2003,
Greece had nothing to do with the Greece of
poverty, underdevelopment, high inflation and
economic instability. According to OECD reports,
