The College of Commissioners was assured today by President Demetris Christofias that Cyprus will exercise a thoroughly European Presidency.
During his intervention at the plenary meeting between the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU and the College of Commissioners, held Friday at the `Filoxenia` Conference Centre, President Christofias reiterated the firm political will and commitment of the Cyprus Government for continuous cooperation and coordination with the Commission and the other EU institutions for achieving their common goals with regard to a Better Europe.
According to the official website of the Cyprus Presidency, President Christofias pointed out the importance of corrective changes with regard to the distribution and redistribution of wealth.
He said that the Cyprus Presidency is more than ready to cooperate closely with the European Commission to promote each and every legislative initiative from the Commission that would enhance social cohesion in the Union.
“Cyprus will successfully meet the challenge of its first assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU and as an honest broker will work to achieve the largest possible convergences within the Council and to promote the legislative work as proposed by the European Commission and co-decided by the European Parliament and the Council,” the President said.
He added that the Cyprus Presidency will also work in close cooperation with the EU Trio.
President Christofias underlined that the Cyprus Presidency of the Council will focus on achieving a Better Europe. The central idea of the Cyprus Presidency is that all together, united in our diversity, we can contribute decisively to making the Union even better, for the benefit of our peoples and our citizens by bringing the EU closer to its citizens and ensuring better quality of life.
A more efficient and viable Europe, a Europe with more efficient economy based on growth, a Europe which means more to its citizens, with solidarity and social cohesion, and a Europe in the world and closer to its neighbours, is the four main priorities of the Cyprus Presidency, he said.
A fairer and balanced compromise for a modern budget focused on growth, is the Presidency’s aim with regard to the Multiannual Financial Framework, according to President Christofias.
He pointed out that the Cyprus Presidency will work as an honest broker to achieve an agreement on this issue by the end of 2012, according to the last European Council Conclusions. A negotiating team, headed by the Deputy Minister on European Affairs will hold bilateral meetings with all EU member states. Furthermore, the issue will be on the agenda of every General Affairs Council while on August 30, an Informal Ministerial Meeting of the European Affairs Ministers will take place in Cyprus to exclusively deal with the issue.
President Christofias expressed readiness to continue the dialogue for a solution to the Cyprus problem during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, adding that “the Cyprus Presidency is irrespective from the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.”
The President also gave assurances that the Cyprus Presidency will not be influenced by the problems caused by Turkey, the occupying power of part of the Republic of Cyprus.
“Cyprus is committed to exercise a thoroughly European Presidency of the Council and any problems that Turkey may cause will be problems dealt in a collective European manner. The Conclusions of the European Council of last December are sufficiently clear on this. I am convinced that the European Commission will assist and support us in this effort,” President Christofias said.
Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004, is presiding over the Council of the EU since the 1st of July, for the first time. The island remains divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
