Motie van vertrouwen voor het nieuwe Cypriotisch voorzitterschap (en)

The EP Conference of Presidents met the President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and the members of his government on Thursday to discuss the priorities and challenges of the incoming Cyprus presidency of the Council of the European Union. During the meeting the Conference of Presidents was briefed on the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency and outlined EP expectations expressing at the same time their full support and cooperation for a successful presidency.

EP President Martin Schulz, speaking after the meeting at a joint press conference with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, expressed his certainty that the Cypriot presidency starting in July will be successful.

Schulz said that currently the Union is facing great challenges, noting that there are questions regarding the Euro, the sovereign debt of Greece and Spain and employment, that need to be dealt with. Noting that in the wealthiest economic area of the world unemployment among young people is increasing alarmingly, he questioned "how long are we going to allow this", adding that "we have to think about the question of growth and how we are going to generate employment, because without growth there is no employment. We discussed these issues", he added, "and we can say that we agreed on most of these".

Commenting on Turkish threats to freeze contacts with the incoming Cyprus presidency, he said that "Cyprus is a full member of the EU taking over the presidency for the next six months and it is not possible for a country which says that it wants to become a member of the EU to turn around and say 'we don't recognize the presidency of the EU". He added that it is to the benefit of all to continue the dialogue and to find reasonable forms of cooperation. He stressed that "I was and still am an advocate of Turkey's accession to the EU because as a member of the EU Turkey would find it easier itself to solve its problems."

On Friday the Conference of Presidents had a meeting with the President of the House of Representatives Yiannakis Omirou and Cypriot political party leaders. They discussed the priorities and huge challenges of the incoming presidency and the cooperation between the two parliaments. There was a common understanding that in times of crisis more and not less Europe is needed.

Speaking after the meeting President Schulz said that the Cyprus presidency begins at a difficult and decisive time for Europe adding that he was impressed that "all political parties represented in the House expressed their support to the efforts for a successful presidency, something that is not always a given."

President Schulz and members of the Conference of Presidents visited the walled city of Nicosia and were briefed on EU funded projects by the Mayor of Nicosia.