Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on February 10. During a press conference, following the meeting, Venizelos said that Ukraine, the EU-Russia summit, the latest developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Eastern neighbourhood issues topped the agenda. The EU foreign ministers had then drawn up a joint communiqué concerning Ukraine, reflecting the positions of the Council.

See also: FAC Press release (Brussels, 10.02)

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos made the following statement regarding the joint communiqué agreed on by the two leaders in Cyprus:

(…) A solution acceptable to the Cypriot people must truly be based on the UN Security Council Resolutions, on the European community acquis, in a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single international legal personality, a single sovereignty, a single citizenship, in a member of the UN and the European Union.

(…) As always, with a sense of national responsibility and total respect for international legality, Greece will stand by and support the process within the above framework.”

Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos chaired the first General Affairs Council (GAC) under the Greek EU Presidency, in Brussels on February 11. The meeting discussed the work programme of the Greek Presidency for the duration of its term, preparations for the Spring European Council meeting (20-21.03), the EU-Africa Summit Union, and a European Commission proposal for genetically modified maize to be made available on the market for cultivation.

Commenting on the result of the Swiss referendum (9.02), Venizelos said that they were respected by the EU but noted that bilateral relations were determined by respect for the legal framework and international agreements governing relations between the two sides.

On the issue of cultivating genetically modified maize in the EU, the ministers failed to approve a European Commission proposal for allowing its cultivation and no decision was taken, so each member-state will have a right to decide whether or not it will permit the cultivation of GM maize within its territory. Venizelos reported that 20 member-states are opposed to the European Commission's proposal, four are in favour and three abstained. On this issue, Venizelos expressed Greece's opposition to permitting cultivation of GMOs in Greece.

See also: Press Conference video