The Cypriot Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2012 will be ''extremely important'', Commissioner for the Internal Market and Service Michel Barnier has said.
Barnier, who is visiting Cyprus in the framework of a tour in European capitals to discuss the future reforms in the single market, told a press conference the Commission has submitted proposals for reforms in the single act which would be mature for approval in the period of the Cypriot presidency, whereas the financial framework 2013-2020 will be discussed during the 18-month period of Cyprus' trio presidency (along with Poland and Denmark).
''For this reason the Cypriot presidency in the second half of 2012 is extremely important as the majority of the texts will be reach legislative maturity in the second half of 2012,'' Barnier said speaking through an interpreter.
Barnier also said that the period of the Cypriot Presidency will be ''very important'' concerning the instability observed in countries such as Libya and Egypt because Cyprus is ''bastion'' of the EU towards the Middle East and North Africa.
''I believe that Cyprus, when holding the EU presidency in the second half of 2012, will aim at strengthening and accelerating the dialogue with the other side of the Mediterranean, in a bid to contribute to a real strategy of cooperation and partnership agreement with these countries so that a economic growth would be generated in these countries, needed by the young generations,'' he added.
Responding to a question concerning the workload of the Cypriot presidency, Barnier said the presidency has a very important role to play in the legislative process but also to the political process.
He added that he discussed with Cypriot President Demetris Christofias ''the challenges in the other side of the Mediterranean but also concerning what is happening in Europe with the increasing protectionism, populism and the danger of seeing each country closing, while the majority of these challenges are European ones and it is to our interest to face these challenges together not separately.''
''Therefore politically this is a very very important time for the Cypriot presidency but not only politically but also technically,'' he added.
Furthermore, responding to question whether Europe is heading towards a change of its immigration policy, Barnier said the ''Europe should not be tuned into a fortress.''
He said he is in favour of strengthening the Shegnen agreement, adding however that ''the solution does not lie in a re-nationalisation of the immigration policy.''
''We need a stronger, more humanitarian immigration policy both for the visas as well as asylum and we should have a single community approach,'' he said.
Pointing out that you people migrate from countries of Northern Africa because ''they are hungry and they desire a future for their children and themselves,'' Barnier said, adding he is in favour of ''Panarab single market'' at the model of the European single market, which would create the conditions for these people to stay and work in their country of origin.
''Europe must assist in the creation of this Panarab market to support the economy of these countries and this is what we decided to do. Therefore our obligation is to assist these countries to construct a developmental model,'' he concluded.
