Greek Presidency of EU Council inaugurated

The Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first semester of 2014 has been officially inaugurated.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras welcomed European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and other members of the Commission to the Zappeion Megaron Hall of Athens, where a working lunch was held.

A plenary meeting between members of the Greek Government and the European College of Commissioners, chaired by Samaras and Barroso, then took place. This was followed by separate cluster meetings, between Commissioners and members of the Greek government.

The official opening of the presidency took place in the evening, at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall, in the presence of Hellenic Republic President, Karolos Papoulias. Barroso as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, addressed the event while Samaras delivered the keynote speech.

A special concert followed.