Greece outlines EU reform ideas to EU presidency -1^st February 2000 (ANA)

Alternate Foreign Minister Christos Rokofyllos conferred on Monday with his visiting Portuguese counterpart, Undersecretary for European Affairs Fransisco Seixas da Costa, on issues related to European Union institutional reform in view the 15-member bloc’s expansion drive.

“It appears that we converge on quite a number of issues and particularly on the need for greater cohesion of the Union and emphasis on policy priorities”, Mr. Rokofyllos said.

The Greek side emphasised the need for each member-state to contribute one commissioner to the European Commission in the wake of the major expansion being attempted.

Mr. Da Costa told reporters that Greece was one of the countries that had prepared for the dialogue and had formulated specific and clear ideas on how the Union should be reformed.

The inter-governmental conference to discuss these ideas and proposals will begin on February 14. The Portuguese presidency has scheduled 14 preparatory meetings up to June 30.

Apart from the General Affairs Council meetings, interministerial meetings will also be held. The Portuguese presidency will present a report of activity on this issue at the end of June, outlining points of agreement and recommendations on the directions the dialogue should take.