The Informal General Affairs Council (GAC), held in Athens on May 30 at Zappeion Megaron, brought together the Ministers of Foreign or European Union Affairs of the EU Member States to discuss institutional and administrative matters.

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs, Evangelos Venizelos, convened in two working sessions. During the first, ministers discussed “The perspective of an Inter-Institutional Agreement on the relations between the Council, the EP & the Commission: content & procedures," while in the second, they exchanged views on "The issue of strengthening the GAC's role in EU policy making: ensuring its effectiveness and its function as a forum of political dialogue."

In his opening address, Venizelos makes a recommends regarding the recent elections for the members of European Parliament. The proceedings included an in-depth discussion of the results and the political conclusions that will be borne in mind by the European organs – and the Council in particular – for the further charting of Europe’s course, and the process of choosing a new President of the European Commission.

On the margins of the Informal Council, Mr. Kourkoulas met with his Italian counterpart, Sandro Gozi, as Italy is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2014, and they discussed issues concerning coordination of the two Presidencies.