Deputy FM Papadopoulou briefs parliamentary committee on December's European Council

"Our country is satisfied by the framework of the agreement for the Long-Term Multiannual Financial Framework that 25 European Union member states support," Papadopoulou said.

As she explained, "The prime minister had set three basic priorities - the migration issue, climate change, and that policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy and the cohesion policy are not affected. And these goals were met."

She also said that despite the large range of issues on the agenda, leaders' discussion focused almost exclusively on Ukraine and the mid-term revision of the EU's budget for the 2021-2027 program period. The European Council session was of particular significance, she added, because key decisions were taken on the future of the European Union's enlargement for the Western Balkans, the start of accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova (even with procedural footnotes), the commitment to start negotiations conditionally for Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the bestowal of a candidate country status to Georgia.

Papadopoulou also mentioned that "I do not know when Greek-Turkish relations will be discussed at the European Council, it has not been included yet on the agenda."

Not all issues led to adopted conclusions, the minister noted, such as on the Middle East, "which shows that EU unity is difficult, particularly under the light of the growing challenges of a wider geopolitical nature and security."