On the occasion of the International Roma Day on 8 April, Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights, Charalampos Athanasiou underlined the EU’s commitment to the protection of Roma rights.

“The Greek Presidency affirms its determination to prevent and combat discrimination against Roma in all its forms and to facilitate the inclusion of Roma in the European societies”, Minister Athanasiou said.

The Informal meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers took place within the framework of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU, on 4 and 5 April 2014, at the Zappeion Megaron, in Athens.

Following the conclusion of the two-day meeting, EU High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton
 and Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Evangelos Venizelos held a press conference.

Read below the transcript of the press conference.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos will be the host of the Informal “Gymnich” Meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers, which is taking place within the framework of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU, on 4 and 5 April 2014, at the Zappeion Megaron, in Athens.



The first day of the Meeting will focus on developments in the European Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods – with emphasis on the situation in Ukraine and Syria – and on the Union’s relations with its strategic partners.



The two-day informal meeting of the ECOFIN, as well as the 13. Joint ECOFIN / FEMIP Ministerial Meeting, organized by the Greek Presidency in Athens on 1-2 April had a full agenda and Ministers were able to exchange views on a number of key issues affecting Europe’s economy and financial situation.