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The Greek Presidency will be about a month shorter than the usual six months, the reason for this being the European Parliament elections that must be scheduled between 22 and 25 May 2014. In the remaining days until 1 July 2014, when the next state, namely Italy, will take over the Presidency, Athens will coordinate the formation of the Union’s new government institutions, as announced at a joint press conference of Greece’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz. The latter believes that Athens is well prepared to assume the Presidency of the Union.
    Antonis Samaras first stated that his government would not be handing out promotional scarves and ties, as is the practice in other capitals, because the country is in austerity and such wastefulness would not escape the Troika’s sharp eye. As to the priorities of the Presidency, Greece’s Prime Minister defined them as follows: "Less bureaucracy and more development, more Europe and closer to its citizens in order for it to be aware of their problems and resolve them; completion of the banking union. A Europe that is balanced between fiscal discipline and economic growth, a Europe of solidarity that bridged the gap between the South and the North."
    The Greek Prime Minister stressed once again that his country is emerging from the crisis and will report a primary budget surplus in 2014, stating that his next big goal is tackling unemployment. "We have refuted the biggest fears, regarding Greece and the Eurozone. Today we see that Europe works," he concluded. Martin Schulz was more reserved in connection with the Greek primary budget surplus and said that he would be very happy if there was one. However, it must be proven by the European statistical office Eurostat, which will announce the data in the spring of 2014, rather than by the Greek side.

    Greece’s Foreign Ministry yesterday showed the logo of the Greek Presidency of the European Union - Europe our common quest. The logo in the form of a gentle sailboat provoked a lot of comments on social networks, "Sailboat, sailboat where you are sailing to in this bad weather."