EU summit starts today
One of the most critical EU summits of recent years gets under way at the Porto Carras Hotel complex on the Halkidiki peninsula today. An unprecedented police and security force in Thessaloniki and on the peninsula is aimed at protecting the delegations and maintaining order during mass anti-globalization protests over the next three days. PM Costas Simitis arrived on Halkidiki yesterday and the leaders of 24 other nations will arrive today. The European Popular Party also began meetings on the peninsula yesterday. The Greek EU presidency has been working at finalizing the draft of the summit’s conclusions, with the thorniest subject concerning defense and foreign policy in light of the Intergovernmental Conference that will determine the EU’s future. Other issues on the agenda are migration, relations with the United States and with Western Balkan countries.
