Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos met with visiting President of the European Parliament’s Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group Hannes Swoboda on Monday, heading an S&D Parliamentary group delegation.

In statements at the meeting, Venizelos reiterated the priorities of the forthcoming Greek EU Presidency, namely, economic growth and new job positions, the protection of the European social state on a healthy fiscal and demographic basis, the consolidation of financial governance institutions and the banking union. Also, the protection of European borders and the European coastline, the management of migration flows without humanitarian crises like the tragic events in Lampedusa and Sicily and an integrated maritime policy, which was characterized by Venizelos as "horizontal priority."

On his part, Swoboda called on all parties involved, the troika of the country's creditors included, "to recognize the enormous work this government has done to reform Greece, Greek administration for example." He said that there is still a lot to be done but this cannot happen in a matter of days or even years, adding that "the European Commission, the European Council and institutional bodies, like the troika, should acknowledge everything that has been done," and not undermine popular support for the government by their demands.