Modesty amid Austerity: Greece Aims for Frugal Council Presidency

By David Böcking and Georgios Christidis
Greece has announced it will offer fewer perks and spend considerably less than other countries on the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union when it assumes the role in January. Doing otherwise would send the wrong message, Athens stressed.

Greece's finance ministry announced Monday that its government would run its upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union on a shoestring budget of only €50 million ($68 million). 

Hellenic MoFA: Deputy FM Kourkoulas’ statements on Hellenic Public Television following the presentation of the logo of the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the EU

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JOURNALIST: Minister, the symbol for the Greek presidency is simple and symbolic and, I would say, rather moving.

D. KOURKOULAS: Yes, simple as Mr. Venizelos said, and loaded with symbolism.

JOURNALIST: Today is essentially the day that we commence the Greek Presidency.

Hellenic MoFA: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos presents the logo of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union

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MFA, Monday, 25 November 2013
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E. VENIZELOS: We now come to the presentation of the logo. The Presidency’s logo is very important, because it is the Presidency’s hallmark.

This hallmark will accompany and certify our every action. It will accompany every event that happens within the framework of our Presidency. I think it sets out in a very clear manner our basic communication strategy for a Greek European Presidency.