Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades is in Brussels, to attend the two-day session of the European Council, on Thursday and Friday. He is also taking part in the European People’s Party Summit, to be held prior to the European Council. On Thursday, the President will attend the Euro Summit meeting.
While in the Belgian capital, President Anastasiades will hold a series of meetings with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, European Parliament President Martin Schulz. On Friday, the President will address the Press on the results of his contacts.
“The aim is to create a positive atmosphere, ahead of final negotiations, in context of the European People’s Party Summit, at the European Council and at the Eurozone Summit”, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides had stated prior to the President’s departure for Brussels.
President Anastasiades will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Finance Minister Michalis Sarris, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides and Under Secretary to the President Constantinos Petrides. He will return to Cyprus on Saturday, March 16.
On another note, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble stated on Wednesday that Cyprus’ request for financial assistance will not be discussed during the European Council, as it is not part of the agenda.
Another German official had stated earlier that Cyprus may not be discussed officially, but the topic may be discussed in the sidelines.
Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem announced yesterday through his personal twitter account that Eurozone Finance Ministers will attend an extraordinary Eurogroup summit on Cyprus, on Friday afternoon.
According to Dijsselbloem, the meeting will start at 5pm (local time), after the conclusion of the European Council.
Excluded from international capital markets, Cyprus has requested financial assistance from the EU bailout mechanism after its two largest banks sought state aid following massive losses of their Greek bond holdings estimated at €4.5 billion, as a result of the Greek sovereign debt haircut.
The Troika and the Cypriot authorities have agreed on a preliminary memorandum of understating which includes the conditions for the granting of the financial assistance programme estimated at €17 billion.
