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Two lawmakers from Germany have presented their request for Greece to withdraw from the European Union (EU) Presidency in the first half of 2014. The main argument of the ruling Christian Democratic Union and the Free Democratic Party is that the mandate would cost Greece about 100 million euro.

In statements to the German tabloid Bild, Christian Democrat Klaus - Peter Wils says that Greece alone has to ask the European Commission to postpone its Presidency. "Otherwise a new aid package must be granted especially in connection with it," states the lawmaker.

His colleague from the Free Democratic Party (FDP) Frank Schaeffler directly states, "Greece should voluntarily give up the EU Presidency."

In response to these statements the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the country is ready to fulfil its obligations during the six-month term of the EU Presidency.

"The EU institutional functions are governed by legal principles and rules contained in existing contracts and based on institutional equality of the member states and on respect for the national sovereignty and dignity of each one of them," states spokesman for the Ministry Konstantinos Koutras.

Photo: Eurokinissi, Georgia Panagopoulou

"Within this context, Greece is ready to fulfil its obligations during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Any further discussion is unnecessary," he adds.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the comments on the effectiveness of the Greek EU Presidency Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the European People's Party (EPP) Joseph Daul expressed the party’s full support to Athens.

"The EPP family fully supports the Greek Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, and his government, in all their efforts to lead the country out of the economic crisis and its social repercussions. We are convinced that he and his government are doing their utmost to prepare for a smooth and successful Greek Presidency."

Joseph Daul did not hesitate to criticize the Greek opposition's attempts to gain political points from the murder of the left activist and rap singer Pavlos Fyssas, "We condemn the reactions of other political leaders who are using the death of a person as a tool for a political campaign against the government."