Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-21

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Eco-Med Forum in Athens

[01] Eco-Med Forum in Athens

She said Thursday's meeting inaugurated a productive dialogue following "the worthwhile and beneficial, for our country's interests, proposal by French President Nicolas Sarkozy for the creation of a Union of the Mediterranean".

Outlining the main characteristics of such a Union, she said that it would not comprise "just one more international organisation", it would not have bureaucratic characteristics, and will not have complicated procedures but, rather, would be "an agency of materialisations of programmes, a 'union de projects' as described by other speakers".

"In the Balkans, Greek companies are protagonists in the economic development of our neighbours. The creation of new business opportunities in the Mediterranean markets is a challenge that I am certain you will respond to with success," Bakoyannis said, stressing that the political leadership had both the volition and ability to help the business world in that venture.

"We are prepared to hear all of your proposals, and then, together, plan the actions in order to productively take advantage of all the opportunities that will arise for our country," the minister added.

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis, in turn, said the goal of Thursday's meeting was to brief the private and public sector on the initiative and to mobilise them in order to present their proposals and formulate programmes that would maximise the benefits of economic growth for Greece. He added that those proposals would be submitted by Greece for approval at the July 13-14 EU summit in Paris.

He added that the Union's comparative advantage, in relation to other Community actions for the region, was a substantive confrontation of practical problems and achievement of economic growth through materialisation of specific programs with the involvement of the private sector.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Deputy FM Yiannis Valinakis.

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