THESSALONIKI - The Greek Presidency initiative to integrate environment and sustainable development into foreign policy was endorsed by the European leaders at the Council on 19-20 June 2003. This proposal calls for a ‘network of experts’ to lead a European Green Diplomacy initiative, which will work closely with the European Commission and subsequent Presidencies.

The Greek Foreign Affairs Minister, George A. Papandreou, stated, “This is a fresh initiative that has the potential to be a guiding principle for sound governance and European foreign policy. Security issues, both regionally and globally, are tied to sustainable development as environmental problems do not respect national borders and cannot be solved without international cooperation. We are promoting an interdisciplinary approach to dealing with these challenges.”

International meetings, such as the Doha Development Round and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, have shown that poverty is linked with the natural resources and that security (in its broad meaning) is dependent on economic, social and environmental sustainability. Green diplomacy aims to integrate these factors at the policy, structural and operational level within the European Union.

“We consider that a common framework of action, in the form of a network of experts, could be beneficial in providing effective and timely responses to meeting these challenges,” explains Mr Papandreou. “These experts, in the national Ministries of Foreign Affairs, would be responsible for ensuring that: environmental factors are fully addressed in conflict scenarios; there is coherence in the EU’s internal and external policies on such issues; the necessary stakeholders have been consulted; and that the accession countries are integrated into this process.”

The Greek Presidency’s initiative builds on the European Strategy on Environmental Integration in External Policies and the European Strategy for Sustainable Development.

Greek Presidency of the European Union, The

Greek Presidency of the European Union, The

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