Athens, 11 January 2021

COSAC Chairpersons Meeting – Parliamentary dimension of Portuguese Presidency inaugurated

The COSAC Chairpersons Meeting which took place today via teleconference inaugurated the parliamentary dimension of the Portuguese Presidency. The keynote speakers were the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Mr. Augusto Santos Silva and the EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Mrs. Elisa Ferreira. The Hellenic Parliament was represented by the Vice-Chair of the European Affairs Committee, Mr. Dimitris Keridis, who, in his introductory remarks, referred to the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution of 1821, a revolution which brought to this corner of Europe the ideas and values of democracy, freedom, respect for human rights and national self-determination, all of which constitute the foundation of European unification. 

Welcoming the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency, he focused in particular on the negotiation for the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, emphasizing the importance of institutionalizing a binding and not flexible solidarity and strengthening the geopolitical role of Europe, not just in terms of trade, but also vis-à-vis its geostrategic influence to defend its interests and values. Commenting on the agreement on the new Multiannual Financial Framework and the Recovery Plan, Mr. Keridis pointed out that it is not a time for praise but a time to focus on the goal of immediate implementation, since the pandemic crisis has further increased the gap between Europe and its competitors, both to the west (US), as well as, primarily, to the east (China). At the same time, he noted, within the European family, the South continues to diverge economically, while the East is diverging politically, thus intensifying the dual problem within the EU. 

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