Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis had a working meeting here of Thursday with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna who is responsible for European Affairs.

The European Union's fiscal prospects for the 2007-2013 period was the main topic which the two politicians discussed, in light of the forthcoming EU Summit on December 15.

Following their meeting, which lasted for more than an hour, Valinakis told journalists that the discussion which he had with his French counterpart Colonna was particularly "interesting and constructive."

 The Greek deputy foreign minister added:” We had expected that the British (EU) Presidency would have already given its own proposals on which we could have worked on in order for there to be a good agreement this December. Unfortunately, these proposals have not yet been submitted and consequently we are cooperating in an effort to find a solution."

Valinakis explained that for Greece, "it is important for a decision to be reached at the coming Summit, a decision, however, which will include a good agreement."

For the Greek minister a "good agreement" must not be very much distant from those which were agreed on last July by the Luxembourg EU Presidency.

He said "we want the burden from the (EU) enlargement to be distributed fairly between the member-states, and not certain, and particularly the poorer, to pay more."
 

Source: Athens News Agency

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