AP
A man walks past fortifications hiding a children’s shoe shop in Thessaloniki, as the city braced for the two-day summit that starts 150 km (93 miles) away in Halkidiki and three days of protests by anti-globalization groups. An unprecedented police and security force will prevent anyone approaching the summit venue by road, sea or air. Delegations will be flown in on military helicopters protected by anti-aircraft batteries.

One of the most critical EU summits of recent years gets under way at the Porto Carras Hotel complex on the Halkidiki peninsula today. An unprecedented police and security force in Thessaloniki and on the peninsula is aimed at protecting the delegations and maintaining order during mass anti-globalization protests over the next three days.

PM Costas Simitis arrived on Halkidiki yesterday and the leaders of 24 other nations will arrive today. The European Popular Party also began meetings on the peninsula yesterday.

The Greek EU presidency has been working at finalizing the draft of the summit’s conclusions, with the thorniest subject concerning defense and foreign policy in light of the Intergovernmental Conference that will determine the EU’s future. Other issues on the agenda are migration, relations with the United States and with Western Balkan countries.