Deputy Minister for European Affairs Andreas Mavroyiannis said Tuesday he was optimistic but also realistic about an agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020 by the end of the year.
The Deputy Minister was speaking at a press conference after the conclusion of Tuesday’s EU General Affairs Council, chaired by Mavroyiannis in Brussels.
He said he informed the EU Ministers about the results of the bilateral discussions he held with all Member States, (including Croatia that will join the EU in July 2013) on the MFF.
Asked whether he is more optimistic after the consultations he had with all Member States, Mavroyiannis replied "I am optimistic, but realistic as well" and explained that he is optimistic because during the bilateral talks all countries had moved from their original positions. Moreover, he continued, now we know the positions of all Member States and their red lines.
He added that he is however realistic saying that an agreement on the MFF would be extremely difficult, since there are still many differences between the positions of the Member States.
The Deputy Minister said that the Presidency will continue its bilateral consultations in the coming weeks until the Informal General Affairs Council that will take place in Nicosia at the end of August.
"We are aware of the difficulties, and will do everything. But not everything depends on the Cyprus EU Presidency", he pointed out, adding that the Presidency will be in close cooperation with the European Parliament as well.
During the Council, Mavroyiannis presented Cyprus` priorities as regards the General Affairs Council, stressing that the Presidency will devote all its forces to promote growth and employment.
He said that fiscal consolidation is very important and necessary, but must be accompanied by measures for growth and employment.
In his statements, Vice-President of the Commission, Commissioner for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration, Maros Sefcovic, said he was confident that the Cyprus EU Presidency would continue the excellent work of the Danish EU Presidency. He noted that the EU needs a decision on the MFF during the presidency of Cyprus.
Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget Janusz Lewandowski expressed hope that the MFF will be adopted during the Cyprus EU Presidency. Referring to Croatia`s accession to the EU in July next year, he said that the accession of this country will require additional costs to the budget, which during the seven years 2014-2020 will reach 9.9 billion Euros.
