PM George Papandreou`s intervention at the plenary session of the Eastern Partnership Summit (Warsaw, 30/9/2011)

By virtue of its location, Greece is uniquely positioned as a bridge linking the Eastern and the Mediterranean dimensions of Europe’s Neighborhood Policy and has promoted the development of both since the ENP’s inception. Therefore, we are very supportive of the strengthening of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) envisaged in the new Neighborhood Policy, based on our shared principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.
The re-launching and re-energizing of the Eastern Partnership, and of the European Neighborhood Policy as a whole, was long overdue. It was necessary in order to better respond to serious common challenges – political, economic, geostrategic, environmental or pertaining to security and energy – but also in order to better prepare for the future.
Structural reforms, internal political tensions, gas routes, energy supply, ecological risks, economic development, illegal immigration and organized crime, are only some of the challenges we are faced with in the framework of the Eastern Neighborhood Policy. Our engagement in the Eastern Neighbourhood is also a matter of consistency and credibility for the EU. Our strategic goal is and will remain the creation of a wider area of stability and prosperity, both in the South as well as in the East. This could only be done by boosting mutually beneficial institutional cooperation and by converging on a set of common values and standards, modeled on the EU positive paradigm and experience.

Advertisement

Greek Language Learning

On Line Learning
The Filoglossia+ consists of an educational multimedia CD-ROMs series for learning Greek as a foreign language, supported by English and addressed to beginners with little or no previous knowledge of Greek.
“Filoglossia” means fondness for language learning and the programme is mainly based on the communicative approach, focusing on the production and comprehension of both oral and written speech. “Filoglossia” is designed by the Institute for Language and Speech Processing (ILSP).

• Looking Ahead
A new strategic plan for the support of Greek language learning in Greece and abroad was the focus of debates at an International Workshop on Greek Language and Linguistic Training, organized by the Centre for the Greek Language held from June 28 to 30 in Thessaloniki, with the participation of 60 Greek and Foreign linguists.
On the occasion, Education, Life-long Learning and Religious Affairs minister Anna Diamantopoulou said that the establishment of a National Council for the Greek Language would help draw a comprehensive strategy.
Creating an organization, similar to the German Goethe Institute or the British Council, which would operate with branches around the world could be an important vehicle to promote Greek language, culture, and history learning. The minister also announced that a conference is to be held in October focusing on the Education of the Diaspora.

• Learn a Greek Word Every Day!

It has been observed that relations of the Diaspora with the Greek language have been weakening over the years – especially with second and third generation migrants.

To help redress this, three friends from Chicago have designed an on-line Greek dictionary aiming to help English-speaking emigrants keep in touch with the language of the forefathers.

Greektionary.com was created to provide everyone with an opportunity to improve their Greek vocabulary on a daily basis.

Three words (beginner, intermediate and advanced) are chosen each day and displayed with their translations, pronunciation, examples, and recorded audio files (Mp3s). Those interested can sign-up and receive free Greek words everyday by e-mail!

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Papandreou at Conference on Progressive Governance in London

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Prime Minister George Papandreou arrived in London yesterday and will be participating today at a Conference on Progressive Governance, on “Jobs, industry and opportunity: growth strategies after the crisis.”
The premier will speak at a panel on the theme “Europe after the global crisis: A strategic role for government,” together with his British counterpart Gordon Brown, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. 
While in London, Papandreou will attend a working luncheon with the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and will meet with British Foreign Minister David Miliband.

Greece in the Euromed space

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) “Greece in a Changing Euro- Mediterranean Setting: Guidelines for Future Action“ is a research monograph by Dimitris Xenakis, published by the Hellenic Centre for European Studies (www.ekem.gr).

After examining the changing Euro-Mediterranean setting and the parameters that have shaped Greece’s foreign policy, this study focuses on Greece’s increased involvement in Euro-Mediterranean affairs and the establishment of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Assessing both the challenges and the opportunities for the country’s strategic and economic interests, the research concludes with guidelines for future action in the framework of the new Euro-Mediterranean structure.

Green Buses in Athens

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Athens is set to acquire one of the most modern public transport bus fleets in Europe, according to an announcement made earlier this week by Transport Minister Kostas Hatzidakis.  Unveiling details of a major upgrade in the fleet of buses operated by the Athens Urban Transport Organisation (OASA), he said the new buses are set to meet stricter environmental specifications and generate much lower levels of atmospheric emissions. The total fleet of buses will be 614, and their delivery is expected to be completed by the first half of 2009. Secretariat General of Information: About Brand Greece- Greek Environmental Strategic Policies

New website for the Greek National Strategic Reference Framework

The new website of the National Strategic Reference Framework (ESPA) 2007-2013 is now accessible at www.espa.gr. This new website provides users with access to overall information regarding the co-financed programmes for the actions of the new Programming Period 2007-2013. More specifically, this website provides information regarding the objectives, actions, institutional framework and the course of implementation of the National Strategic Reference Framework (ESPA 2007-2013), as well as information on sector programmes and operational programmes per se. Special sections have been created for private persons, businesses and bodies, in order to increase the usability of the website. Furthermore, a chat facility and forum have been added, enhancing the interactional potential of the website. Users can also subscribe to the ESPA 2007-2013 electronic newsletter, which regularly monitors events related to the programmes, while the electronic archive provides access to useful documents and sources. A special section has been created for children with games and educational material, so that children may learn about Europe and have fun at the same time. According to the Deputy Minister for Economy and Finance, Mr. Yianni Papathanasiou, “ESPA 2007-2013 has been designed in order to bring about developments for the country and the quality of life for all citizens, without any exclusion. The internet gives us the opportunity to disseminate this message to Greek society, in an effort to reinforce a climate of transparency and offer beneficiaries a chance to get to know and benefit from the actions of the new programming period.” Links: ESPA 2007-2013 http://www.espa.gr/