 The People's Republic of China was the first major power to act, recognising the Republic under its constitutional name on 13 October 1993.On 16 December 1993, two weeks before Greece was due to take up the European Union presidency, six key EC countries—Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom—recognised the Republic under its UN designation.Other EC countries followed suit in quick succession and by the end of December, all EC member states except Greece had recognised the Republic.