On 15 April 2014, the Plenary of the European Parliament approved the Report on the proposal for a Directive of the EP and the Council on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of intra-corporate transfer presented by the competent Rapporteur and member of the LIBE Committee, Salvatore Iacolino.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos presented before the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) in Strasbourg yesterday (14 April 2014) the developments in the process of drafting an EU Maritime Security Strategy.

Minister Venizelos said, inter alia: “Our aim is for the EU Maritime Security Strategy to broaden the so far one-dimensional perspective of maritime security, which is now somehow military and police oriented, by including the following:

Defence ministers will meet today (15 April 2014) from 9.30 (CET) onwards, first as the European Defence Agency Steering Board, chaired by the High Representative as Head of the Agency.

The Council will convene from 10.30 (CET) and hear presentations on the proposed EU Maritime Security Strategy and the launch of the EU military operation in the Central African Republic.

The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting took place on 10-11 April in Washington D.C. back-to-back with the World Bank – IMF Spring Meetings 2014. Representing the Council of the EU, the Greek Presidency delegation was leaded by Christina Papaconstantinou, Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance.