President Christofias: Doortastend Europees voorzitterschap (en)
President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Demetris Christofias i assured 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, which took place at the 'Filoxenia' Conference Centre today, July 6.
President Christofias reiterated the firm political will and commitment of the Cyprus Government for continuous cooperation and coordination with the College of Commissioners and the other EU institutions for achieving their common goals with regard to a Better Europe.
Pointing out that it is important to make corrective changes with regard to the distribution and redistribution of wealth, President Christofias said that the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 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 in making the Union even better, for the benefit of our peoples and our citizens by bringing the EU closer to its citizens and ensuring more quality of life.
He also referred to the four main priorities of the Cyprus Presidency: 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.
With regard to the Multiannual Financial Framework, President Christofias said that the goal is to achieve a fairer and balanced compromise for a modern budget focused on growth.
He pointed out that the Cyprus Presidency will also work as an honest broker to achieve an agreement on this issue by the end of 2012, according to the last European Council Conclusions. To this end, 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 that will 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 concluded.