Minister of Foreign Affairs
participates
in the Informal General
Affairs Council of the EU
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ioannis
Kasoulides, participated in the Informal EU General Affairs Council held in
Milan on 28-29 August.
During the Informal Meeting, the Foreign
Ministers of 28 member states discussed the way the EU functions, the
successful implementation of the EU Strategy methodology adopted at the
European Council last June and, in
general, the internal system of EU with regard to the effectiveness of
decision-making.
Mr Kasoulides, referring to the results
of the European elections and the frustration of European citizens with regard
to EU practices, emphasized the need to focus on issues related to everyday
life and to highlight the issues that concern them, such as employment, growth
and transparency. Concluding, the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the
frustration of European citizens, as well as the inability of European
institutions to deal promptly and effectively with their concerns, reinforces
at the elections the nationalist and right-wing organizations.
Additionally, he agreed with the five
key priorities that will guide the work of the EU in the next five years as
they were adopted at the European Council that took place in June, in which the
significant sections of employment, growth and competitiveness, energy and
climate, as well as the sector of fundamental freedoms are included.
Furthermore, based on the effective
implementation of the five key priorities of the EU and in particular the
strengthening of competitiveness and growth, Mr Kasoulides stressed that these
two issues concern both Ministries of the member states and the sector EU
Councils. Therefore, he pointed out, each individual Presidency could safeguard
the coherence of sector Councils on these issues.
Finally, he agreed with the suggestion
to have a targeted coordination of all the initiatives for development and a
mainstreaming of competitiveness on all EU policies.
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