THE GREEK Foreign Minister Mr Theodoros Pangalos, says the EU needs "an efficient, common foreign and defence policy capable of safeguarding the external borders, the independence and the security of the Union".
The institutions of the EU must be based on "institutional equality and unity, without discriminations or differentiations," he said.
In an interview with The Irish Times before the Dublin summit Mr Pangalos also described EU membership for Cyprus as "a priority issue for Greek foreign policy".
However, he said "it should made clear" to Ankara that Turkey has no veto over Cypriot membership, and said the EU and Cyprus should not be "hostages" to Turkey.
"Greece wants good relations with our neighbour Turkey," he said. "Turkey, however, pursues an offensive policy in the Aegean that endangers stability and security in the region."
Mr Pangalos said Turkey continues to violate the terms of its Customs Union agreement with the EU and is questioning the territorial integrity of the EU by challenging "Greek territorial integrity over the Imia islets. . . and the sovereignty of an indefinite number of islands or islets in the Aegean".
Calling for a "new security architecture" for the European continent, he said acts by a third country against a member state and disrespect for human rights should influence EU policy on an applicant state. "European integration should be built upon the principles of democracy, solidarity, cohesion and social justice," he said.
"We do not wish to impede in any way the relations of Turkey with the European Union, provided that Turkey abides by the obvious conditions of respect of ... international law and human rights," Mr Pangalos said.
"I do not see how any European could have a different opinion," he said, asking: "Is there anyone that believes that relations with this country should develop while citizens, journalists and even children or sexually abused by the police, as has been recently reported by Amnesty International."
. Greece will be "in the second group of countries" to take part in the planned single currency, the Greek Prime Minister, Mr Costas Simitis, said yesterday in The Hague.