Cyprus and Greece decide to form a joint working group on maritime issues

The decision was made during a meeting held on Tuesday between the Minister of Communications and Works Efthimios Flourentzou and Greek Minister of Merchant Marine and Aegean Constantinos Mousouroulis, who is currently on an official visit to the island.

In statements following the meeting at the Ministry of Communications, Flourentzos said that they had discussed a wide range of issues of common interest, particularly issues relating to the Cyprus Presidency the EU.

Minister said that he briefed the Greek Minister and his entourage on the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU in the field of maritime transport and integrated maritime policy.

Flourentzou noted that they were also briefed on EU Informal Council of Ministers on the Integrated Maritime Policy to be held on 7 and 8 October in Limassol, during which a political declaration will be adopted.

He noted that during their meeting they had decided to set up a joint working group of the two countries on maritime issues “so we can work together and exchange views on issues of common interest in the areas of responsibility of the two ministries."

Greek Minister stressed that Greece "is strictly committed to the dual goal of putting an end to the illegal Turkish occupation of Cyprus and achieving a just, viable and functional solution of the Cyprus problem within the framework of the decisions of the UN Security Council and the acquis communautaire ".

Mousouroulis described the decision to set up a joint working group to develop these issues in depth and facilitate political coordination where is needed, as an important step for both maritime administrations of the two countries.