Cypriotisch EU-voorzitterschap wil belang Europa stimuleren bij burgers (en)

The role of the Committee of Regions and of the Local and Regional Authorities in general, under the conditions of an economic crisis was the focus of the meeting held today by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Demetris Christofias with the President of the Committee of Regions of the EU i(CoR) Mr Ramon Luis Valcárcel.

During the meeting, which took place in the presence of the Deputy Minister to the Presidency for European Affairs Mr Andreas Mavroyiannis, the President and Mr Valcárcel also discussed the problems faced by local authorities with regard to the economic state of affairs in Europe, as it has been shaped due to the economic crisis.

“The connecting link”

The President of the Republic praised the role of the CoR and stressed that the Committee constitutes the connecting link between the citizens of the EU and its central institutional organs.

“This is the essence of one of our main goals of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union: To make Europe more relevant to its citizens. And the Committee constitutes an important tool in this direction” President Christofias said.

President Christofias and President Valcárcel expressed identical views with regard to the necessity for the Multiannual Financial Framework to include a strong political cohesion.

Preceded by a two day meeting

The meeting between President Christofias, the Deputy Minister Mr Mavroyiannis and President Valcárcel was preceded by a two day meeting by the Bureau of the Committee of the Regions in Lefkosia (Nicosia).

The “Bureau” represents the political apex of the whole CoR structure and draws up its political programme. In its 139th meeting, held in Lefkosia (Nicosia) on September 6 and 7, the Bureau, focused on the Europe 2020 strategy and inclusive growth.

“The Committee of the Regions is ready to cooperate intensely with the Cyprus Presidency to make sure that the effort to put into practice the Europe 2020 Strategy will be shared at all levels and bring concrete benefit to our citizens especially the ones struggling for their day-to-day life due to crisis,” President Valcárcel said in a joint press conference together with the Mayor Mr. Constantinos Yiorkadjis and the Head of the Cyprus delegation at the CoR, Mr George Georgiou, Mayor of Kato Polemidia.