Cyprus welcomes agreement on EU Reform Treaty

by Maria Koniotou

Lisbon, (CNA) — Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has described as “very important step” the agreement of European Union leaders on the new reform Treaty, clinched during the Intergovernmental Conference, which concludes here today.

In statements to the press, Papadopoulos expressed hope that Cyprus will be among the first EU countries to ratify the new Treaty, after its signing in Lisbon on December 13.

”The conclusion of the reform Treaty constitutes a new chapter on the development of the EU. It aims at making the EU more effective with greater cooperation among member states, especially as regards its institutions. I believe that the general will of all members is that all parliaments should ratify the Treaty the soonest possible,” he added.

Papadopoulos noted that the agreement was achieved in the early hours of Friday morning after compromising solutions were found on the 4-5 pending issues.

He congratulated both the former and the current EU Presidency for their contribution to this.

Replying to questions Papadopoulos stressed that the EU faced many difficulties since its institutions were created for 15 countries and not for 27 and added that its smooth functioning will be to its benefit.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004, will hold the EU Presidency along with Poland and Denmark during the period 2011-2012.