The President of the European Council Mr. Charles Michel gave an exclusive interview to Dr. Martha Theodorou, Head of International and Public Relations of the Economic and Social Committee of Greece (OKE).

In his interview, the President of the European Council presents the priorities of the European Union in the context of the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, emphasizes the need to make the Union more competitive by promoting the integration of the Capital Markets Union, defines European sovereignty, refers to the crucial role of the EU defense industry, and expresses the belief that a strong, prosperous and democratic Union is inextricably linked to the rule of law and Europe’s principles and values.

Read the interview of the President of the European Council on the OKE website.

OK

The institution of O.K.E. it began to develop in the 1950s at the national level and was subsequently adopted by the Treaty of Rome for the European Economic Community (EEC). Since then it has experienced great growth in most of the Community countries. Later, O.K.E. were founded. and in the countries of Eastern Europe in the context of the accession process, as well as in third Mediterranean countries, for which it was an important mechanism of direct communication with the European Union.

The Economic and Social Committee of Greece (E.C.E.) was founded in 1994, modeled on the E.C.E. of the European Union.

The Greek O.K.E. is a constitutional institution with the mission of conducting the social dialogue on the general policy of the country and in particular on the directions of the economic and social policy, as well as the formulation of an Opinion on the bills and proposals of laws that are referred to the Committee. Through social dialogue, O.K.E. seeks to formulate commonly accepted positions on important and topical issues that concern society at large or specific sections of it.

European Council

The European Council is the highest political entity of the European Union (EU). It consists of the heads of state or government of the member states of the Union, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. Together, they determine the political direction and priorities of the EU in both the short and long term, thus setting the political agenda.

The President of the European Council presides, promotes its work and ensures the external representation of the European Union in matters concerning its common foreign policy and security policy.

On 2 July 2019, EU leaders elected Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Belgium, as President of the European Council.

On 24 March 2022, EU leaders re-elected Charles Michel as President of the European Council.