Cyprus attends EU-27 Council on Competitiveness

The preparation of the Spring European Council to take place 19 and 20 of March in Brussels on issues concerning competitiveness was the main issue discussed during the first day of the EU–27 Council of Ministers for Competitiveness.

Cyprus was represented at the Council by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides.

Speaking at the Council, Paschalides welcomed the importance attributed to internet connections and infrastructure, mainly for the most isolated member states in the area of energy. He also welcomed the need to increase financing for infrastructure projects.

He noted that the financing tools adopted at EU level to support policies and priorities, in order to be effective and substantially improve the EU competitiveness, should always bear in mind some special circumstances of all its member states.

“We must point out the need for energy connection of isolated European countries”, he said, adding that such a reference would be of great importance since it would promote internal market in energy and improve economic competitiveness.