Vassilios Costis Photo: Courtesy of Embassy of Greece, Beijing

Editor's Note:

Greece took over the rotating presidency of the EU in early January. How will Greece cope with its responsibilities? And how can the EU-China relationship be improved? Vassilios Costis (Costis), Greek ambassador to China, shared his views with the Global Times (GT) in a written interview.

GT: The EU is striving to escape the aftermath of the economic crisis. At this critical time, what's the significance to Greece in taking up this important position?

Costis: Greece is assuming the presidency of the EU Council at a critical transitional juncture for Europe. The economic crisis forced the adoption of fiscal constraint policies aimed at ensuring financial stability and returning the economy to health.

In this context, Europe is currently being called upon to respond to the challenge of the economic crisis, safeguarding the common currency through deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), while promoting direct policies for confronting the recession and unemployment by stimulating growth. 

During these six months, Greece will be representing an EU that must show its commitment to great values, like solidarity, the European social state, the value of a European model for competitiveness and growth as well as a strong will to safeguard the people of Europe and of course, the Greek people from a repetition of this crisis.

Greece will push, during its presidency, toward more European integration, and a new legitimization among the peoples of Europe. Greece, which happened to be the great laboratory of the crisis in Europe, will be at the helm of the EU when big institutional policies are formulated and implemented.

At the same time, the first six months of 2014 will be a very important period for Greece. We aim at making very clear the positive aspects of our exit from the crisis. It will be the time for a real recovery of the Greek economy, for positive growth after five years and bigger primary surplus.

It is very important for Greece to appear in the European family and globally as a country not anymore in a crisis, but as an equal partner, active and constructive member state of the EU and of the eurozone.

For us it is important to prove, that despite the problems of the last years, we are a hard-working country with unique place in the history and civilization of humanity, and we are recovering our rightful position in the EU and the world.

GT: What will be the top priorities for the EU while Greece is holding the EU presidency?

Costis: Promoting growth, employment and cohesion is first. We will push for the full and effective implementation of relevant EU initiatives and programs on growth and job creation, for promoting ongoing trade talks with strategic partners, and we will promote action on social stability and cohesion.

We will also strive for deepening the EU, especially the EMU, and the coordination of national fiscal and economic policies. The Greek presidency will strive to reach agreement on the Banking Union and relevant mechanisms as reinforced budgetary and economic integration frameworks. 

Another is migration, border management and mobility. We will concentrate our efforts on highlighting the positive aspects of a comprehensive migration management to the benefit of boosting growth and of promoting all dimensions of migration and mobility policies. At the same time, action is envisaged to tackle the problems arising from illegal migration.

Our fourth horizontal priority will be to redefine and relaunch the EU Maritime Policy in all its aspects, with emphasis on challenges in the global maritime domain, on general principles, such as maritime multilateralism and the promotion of EU values.

GT: The attraction of the EU seems to be declining to potential candidates. How will Greece and the EU as a whole address that?

Costis: The extent and intensity of the economic and financial crisis and the resulting recession and unemployment undermined the trust of many European citizens in the ability of the European institutions to implement credible and effective policy for a return to prosperity, economic recovery and a high level of employment.

At the same time, confronting the crisis through the implementation of policies of strict fiscal discipline strongly impacted social cohesion, particularly in countries directly affected by the crisis. That produced some waves of euro-skepticism.

Despite all these problems, the EU is still attractive and appealing to all possible candidates who push for their speedy integration to the EU. Greece will strive to enhance civic and society engagement in the EU, through policies and initiatives in response to citizens' everyday problems, concerns and insecurities.

Our efforts will focus in the areas of economic recovery, employment, cohesion, mobility and security, internal and external as well as in reaffirmation of the EU's mission in the hearts and minds of European citizens.

The ultimate goal is the strengthening of the EU as a community of shared values ​​which can promote the interests of its citizens, while preserving and strengthening the European model.

GT: How will Greece carry out its responsibilities under a tight budget?

Costis: We have already organized our presidency in a cost-effective and austere manner, in the reality of our human resources, but not against productivity and results. For reasons of cost, transport and security, most high-level meetings will take place in Athens and Brussels.

Our permanent representation in Brussels, which will bear the heaviest burden of work, was slightly strengthened.

We must bear in mind that after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty an important part or coordination work is being carried out by the External Action Service of the EU and other EU institutions. We have used sponsorship for a number of events.

GT: How does Greece want to improve its relationship with China?

Costis: Throughout its EU presidency, Greece will continue to firmly support the enhancement of the EU-China strategic relationship, in a balanced and comprehensive way.

We consider the adoption of the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation at the recent EU-China Summit as fundamental in providing the guidelines for strengthening the EU-China strategic relationship in all sectors, and we will work for their implementation.

Greece believes that the EU and China can improve further their joint efforts and coordination in addressing global and regional challenges, such as the economic crisis, climate change, piracy, and regional conflicts. Greece appreciates China's stance on supporting Europe's integration process and Chinese support during the financial and economic crisis.

Greece is convinced that deepening of the EU-China relationship will prove mutually beneficial for the further enhancement of the relations of our two countries as well.

We are also convinced that the very important results of the Third Plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee will further contribute to enhancing EU-China relations.