Greece Anxious to Prove Itself in Eu Hot Seat

Greece takes over the EU presidency today, hoping its six-month stint will bear fruit on the issues of illegal migration, Cyprus and the smooth accession of 10 new members.

The reform-minded government is keen to promote its "new outlook" - a radically changed attitude from when Greece last held the presidency, in 1994. Then, Athens was seen as an EU misfit, more intent on confrontation than cooperation with its Balkan neighbours, and irking its allies in the west.

"We are a very European, modern, forward-looking member now," the European affairs minister, Tassos Giannitsis, said. "There is absolutely no way we are going to be Greco-centric in our dealings."

Getting the war-partitioned island of Cyprus into the EU, reunited, would be the triumph of the presidency. If its Greek and Turkish communities fail to agree to a UN peace deal by February 28, diplomats in Athens will be forced to draft an accession treaty for a divided country.

Greece has already prepared a spectacular accession ceremony below the Acropolis for the new members on April 16.

Formulating common immigration policies to help foster a better climate for migrants in the EU will top its agenda.

Managed migration, Athens believes, would not only solve the problem of labour shortages in the increasingly geriatric EU but also help avoid the social tensions that spawn political extremism.

"The Greek diaspora is a shining example of the value of migration," the foreign minister, George Papandreou. says. "Whether in business, the arts, politics or academia, Greek immigrants have created success stories all over the world."