Focus on Greek Investment Immigration and Greek News: In January 2014, Greece began its term as the rotating presidency of the European Union, which means that during its six-month term, the Greek government must preside over hundreds of meetings and complex negotiations, as well as host 13 ministerial meetings in the capital, Athens. As the origin of the European debt crisis, whether Greece, which has yet to emerge from the "Troika" bailout program, can competently assume the EU presidency has become a focal point of external attention.
According to official predictions from Greece, the country has ended a six-year economic recession and is expected to return to growth in 2014, albeit at a modest rate. However, this does not mean that Greece has fully recovered from the economic crisis. Over the past four years, the international community has injected billions into Greece, while the austerity measures implemented in exchange for the bailout have come at a tremendous cost to the country. Public spending has sharply decreased, tax burdens have increased, the unemployment rate has reached 27%, and debts amount to hundreds of billions of euros. Domestic poverty in Greece has intensified, leading to widespread public discontent and the rise of neo-Nazi forces. Therefore, Greece still faces numerous challenges, but the Greek government remains optimistic about the future. Prime Minister Samaras believes that Greece can exit the "Troika" bailout program in 2014 and return to the financial markets.
It is reported that Greece has prepared a budget of 50 million euros for its presidency, which is the smallest budget for Greece's four terms as rotating president. Perhaps the Greeks have become accustomed to frugality, and Greek officials have even expressed hope for a budget surplus. Regardless, Greece now has six months to prove to the world that the international community's assistance was not in vain, and that Greece is gradually emerging from the quagmire.
The highlight of the EU in the first half of 2014 will be the European Parliament elections scheduled for the end of May, so as many legislative proposals as possible must be discussed and completed before early April for submission to Parliament. Among the many pressing issues, Greece will focus on promoting the construction of a banking union; economic growth policies that concern its own interests will also be a focal point for Greece, with the "Growth and Employment Pact" continuing to be implemented through various employment investment projects; at the same time, addressing the economic and social issues brought about by illegal immigration will also be one of Greece's key tasks. Additionally, the European Parliament elections are crucial for Greece, as the leader of the left-wing opposition party, Tsipras, dreams of entering the European Parliament and even running for the presidency of the European Commission. Greece's Deputy Representative to the EU, Papastavrou, stated that Europe is at a crossroads, and Europeans are gradually losing trust in the fundamental values of Europe, with skepticism spreading across countries. Therefore, Greece cannot merely focus on the routine affairs of the presidency but must also actively contribute to discussions regarding the future of the EU.
Prime Minister Samaras stated that Greece's presidency will bring hope to Europe. German Finance Minister Schäuble also believes that Greece assuming the EU presidency is a tremendous opportunity for both Greece and Europe. He stated that Greece will demonstrate to its people that its future lies in Europe, inspiring a sense of identity and pride among the Greek populace.