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lunedì 28 marzo 2016

MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE EU - GREECE

Strategically located at the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea, Greece forms the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula in south-east Europe. Its territory includes several hundred islands in the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean seas, of which only 227 are inhabited. Eighty per cent of Greece is mountainous and Mount Olympus is the highest point in the country (2 917m).

The most important sectors of Greece’s economy in 2014 were wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services (26.3 %), public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (20.8 %) and real estate activities (18.5 %).

Greece’s main export partners are Turkey, Italy and Germany while its main import partners are Russia, Germany and Iraq.

Capital: Athens

Geographical size: 131 957 km²

Population: 10 992 589 (2014)

Population as % of total EU population: 2.2 % (2014)

GDP: € 179.081 billion (2014)

Official EU language(s): Greek

Political system: parliamentary republic

EU member country since: 1 January 1981

Seats in the European Parliament: 21

Currency: Euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 2001

Schengen area member? Yes, Schengen Area member since 1 January 2000.

Presidency of the Council: Greece has held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU 5 times between 1983 and 2014.

Greece in the EU

European Parliament

There are 21 members of the European Parliament from Greece. Find out who these MEPsare. European Parliament office in Greece

Council of the EU

In the Council of the EU, national ministers meet regularly to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies. Council meetings are regularly attended by representatives from the Greek government, depending on the policy area being addressed.

Presidency of the Council of the EU

The Council of the EU doesn't have a permanent, single-person president (like e.g. the Commission or Parliament). Instead, its work is led by the country holding the Council presidency, which rotates every 6 months.

During these 6 months, ministers from that country's government chair and help determine the agenda of Council meetings in each policy area, and facilitate dialogue with the other EU institutions.

Dates of Greek presidencies:

Jul-Dec 1983 | Jul-Dec 1988 | Jan-Jun 1994 | Jan-Jun 2003 | Jan-Jun 2014

More on the current presidency of the Council of the EU.

European Commission

The Commissioner nominated by Greece to the European Commission is Dimitris Avramopoulos, who is responsible for Migration, Home Affairs & Citizenship.

The Commission is represented in each EU country by a local office, called a "representation".

Commission representation in Greece

European Economic & Social Committee

Greece has 13 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee. This advisory body – representing employers, workers and other interest groups – is consulted on proposed laws, to get a better idea of the possible changes to work and social situations in member countries.

Committee of the Regions

Greece has 12 representatives on the Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives. This advisory body is consulted on proposed laws, to ensure these laws take account of the perspective from each region of the EU.

Permanent representation to the EU

Greece also communicates with the EU institutions through its permanent representation in Brussels. As Greece's "embassy to the EU", its main task is to ensure that the country's interests and policies are pursued as effectively as possible in the EU.

Budgets and Funding

How much does Greece contribute and receive?

Member countries' financial contributions to the EU budget are shared fairly, according to means. The larger your country's economy, the more it pays – and vice versa. The EU budget doesn't aim to redistribute wealth, but rather to focus on the needs of all Europeans as a whole.

Breakdown of Greece's finances with the EU in 2014:

Total EU spending in Greece – € 7.095 billion
Total EU spending as % of Greek GNI – 3.98 %
Total Greek contribution to the EU budget – € 1.827 billion
Greek contribution to the EU budget as % of its GNI – 1.02 %

More figures on the EU budget, revenue and spending:

EU-funded projects in Greece

The money paid into the EU budget by Greece helps fund programmes and projects in all EU countries - like building roads, subsidising researchers and protecting the environment.