A three-day meeting of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament opens in Athens on Monday, with the participation of MEPs from the 27 EU member states and chaired by Group leader Martin Shultz.

The session will be addressed on Tuesday by Greek prime minister George Papandreou, and will also be attended by Greek ministers of finance Yiorgos Papakonstantinou, labour and social security Louka Katseli, environment, energy and climate change Tina Birbili and culture and tourism Pavlos Geroulanos.

Addresses will also be delivered on Monday afternoon by Athens and Thessaloniki mayors George Kaminis and Yannis Boutaris, respectively.