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*Image Credit: David Sassolis twitter[/caption]

It has been forty years since Greece joined theEuropean Union (EU)in 1981, named at the time European Economic Community.

To celebrate, an event was held at Zappeion Hall in Athens on Thursday, which was attended by a number of European leaders.

Greece and Europe helped shape each other, and just as we cannot exist without you, you have chosen not to exist without Europe, Charles Michel said.

Michels address focused around the words democracy and liberty, which lay at the foundations of the European Union.

Greeces membership in the EC was a return to their roots for Greeks, but Europeans also felt it was a return to their roots, as Europe was born in Greece, he said.

Michel also referred to the unique role classical Greece played in his personal education and identity and in creating Europes collective consciousness. A drawing on his desk depicting Socrates, he said, reminds him that Greece is the cradle of thought, liberty and democracy.

Forty years ago, Greece joined the European family, launching a new era for Europe by welcoming to its fold the historical cradle of democracy, said David Sassoli.

Highlighting Greeces contribution to the European Union, the successor to the EC, Sassoli emphasised that it had placed the idea of democracy at Europes heart, paving the way to a democratic renaissance of the continent and adding to its stabilisation.

He also made a special reference to Greeces contribution to culture: We cannot forget Greeces contribution to the progress of culture, and the fact that the concepts of democracy, freedom, truth, aesthetics, which run through the centuries with their transcendental dimension, led to Greeces current form and created Europes profile.

Greece influenced the European venture rather profoundly, he underlined, adding that looking at these 40 years since Greeces accession, we see the history of the European venture itself.

?y warmest thanks to @EP_President David Sassoli for participating in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of ??’s accession to the ?? Communities. During our meeting I highlighted @Europarl_EN's major contribution to reaching a compromise on the EU digital COVID certificate. pic.twitter.com/IxnLZcYKLn

— President GR (@PresidencyGR) May 27, 2021

Today we celebrate a great day for our country, Katerina Sakellaropoulou underlined.

Hellas could not be absent from this historic collective effort for the future of Europe, she said, quoting the late Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis, who was instrumental in the membership process.

Sakellaropoulou then pointed out that Greece has changed quite substantially over the last 40 years, and she underlined that the decades following the fall of the countrys military dictatorship in 1974 was the most peaceful and progressive time in modern Greek history, and coincided with the golden age of European unification.

She also noted that Greeces economy owes much to European resources.

Europe is not turning back, she asserted. Just as its forefathers envisioned and inspired an open society and a free market, its leaders today are called upon to place a similar emphasis on security and protection of its peoples.

Since January 1, 1981, Greece is rediscovering its place in Europe with which it is historically and culturally connected, having common interests and goals. With these words, Constantine Karamanlis 40 years ago welcomed the accession of Greece to the then European Economic Communities, as its 10th member, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.

Greeces membership is a non-negotiable aspect of the countrys identity, he underlined.

Today, Greece is a protagonist with credibility and power.Its economy is constantly improving, while its moves on the international chessboard bring results: in the defence of European borders but also in the humanitarian contribution to tackle the immigration problem and in the peace initiatives being developed in the Mediterranean of Europe.

Addressing the citizens of Europe, Mitsotakis emphasised that everyone can positively respond to the challenge of our generation: The next years are in our hands to become the years of recovery.With greater geopolitical influence of our Union.More cohesion in our societies.And by highlighting our common identity, which combines European with national pride.This is the bet we have to win.And we will win it.

Greece is moving fast in the third decade of the 21st century, celebrating the 200 years of its freedom and the 40 years of its European Union journey. And she remembers that always on this turbulent and turbulent journey, always in difficulties, she turned her gaze to Europe. And Europe has always been there for Greece, just as Greece was and is here for Europe, the Greek PM concluded.

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40th anniversary of Greece's accession to the European Union - Greek City Times - GreekCityTimes.com