EU Approves Proposal To Include Tourism In Constitution Revision

The European Union is studying Greek proposals for the European tourism industry following submissions made by Greek Euro-MP Costis Hadjidakis, who heads the European Parliament’s regional transport and tourism policy committee.

During the parliament’s recent Strasbourg session, it approved Greece’s proposal for tourism to be included among EU policies being looked into as part of a revision of the Union’s constitution.

In a submission forwarded to the parliament, Greek Euro-MPs stressed tourism should be covered by the constitution and fall common EU policy.

Mr. Hadjidakis noted that the EU decision effectively met a longstanding demand of the tourism industry. He said the move to include tourism in common EU policy was of utmost importance to Greece, not only economically but socially as well.

He added that he hoped the Greek government would take advantage of this opportunity.

Around 12 months ago the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) undertook an initiative aimed at highlighting tourism’s inportance to the Union. Considering the significance which tourism has for Greece, specific proposals for Union policy concerning the sector should be forwarded to the EU during meeting between member-states. With that in mind, SETE has sent a letter to the ministries of development and foreign affairs requesting that they organise a conference under the title “Towards a common tourism policy.”

The association stated that the aim of the proposed forum is the creation of a national strategy to be followed by Greek representatives within EU bodies at all levels in order to ensure the best possible coordination of efforts to support the sector.  

Meanwhile, Greece’s new development minister, Nikos Christodoulakis, speaking at the Industry Confederation of Northern Greece’s general assembly, said that within the next seven years, 15 trillion drachmas would be allocated to expand infrastructure, support regional development, support industry, commerce and tourism, particularly small-and medium-size enterprises. He added that the government was creating and supporting strategic national competition that exhibits the advantages the country possesses in fields such as agriculture, tourism, culture and new technologies.

SETE has praised the European Parliament’s approval at its mid-April Strasbourg session of Greek proposal for tourism to be incorporated in EU policy.