Denmark passed the torch on Sunday to the Republic of Cyprus which assumes its first Presidency of the Council of the EU, in an undeniably difficult time for Europe.
Τhe current socioeconomic developments have led to a formulation of Cyprus’ main objective, which is to work towards a Better Europe, a Union more relevant to its citizens and the world.
In doing so, Cyprus will emphasize the need for adherence to the fundamental values of the EU, ensuring solidarity, social cohesion and a better quality of life for EU citizens.
Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004, not only assumes the presidency for the first time in its history, it is also a small sized country with a small sized public service, facing its own economic problems, being divided since the Turkish invasion in 1974 and having to manage the inherited agenda from the trio presidency.
Being the last country of the trio presidency (Poland – Denmark – Cyprus) and the only one of the three which is member of the Eurozone, Cyprus has to cope with the increased duties of the second half of 2012 and will probably be called upon to manage new crises in the Eurozone and in the international arena.
On Monday, July 2, the Deputy Minister to the President for European Affairs, Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis, will present the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency, at a press conference in Brussels with the Danish Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Jeppe Tranholm – Mikkelsen.
The press conference will mark the start of the Cyprus Presidency and the Cypriot Deputy Minister will present the overall vision of the Presidency and its priorities. At the press conference Ambassador Tranholm – Mikkelsen will present an overview of the achievements of the Danish Presidency.
On July 4, President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias will make the official presentation of the semester program before the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg. He will also address the EP at the end of the presidency to report on the work achieved.
In Cyprus, the official opening ceremony of the Cyprus EU Presidency will take place at the ancient amphitheatre at Kourion, on the southern coast overlooking the beach. Present at the ceremony will be President Christofias, President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy, President of the Commission Manuel Barroso and the Commissioners and many other officials.
Cyprus’ vision to “Work towards a Better Europe” will be promoted via two dimensions, solidarity and social cohesion, which has gained momentum in light of the EU’s response to the crisis and effectiveness and growth, which will contribute to a more competitive and efficient Europe, via even more targeted policies.
As regards the Cyprus problem, Turkey’s occupation of 37% of Cyprus’ territory since 1974, the Republic of Cyprus has repeatedly underlined that regardless of its own political problem, it plans to proceed with a successful results-oriented Presidency.
European sources told CNA that Ankara’s policy of launching threats against the Republic of Cyprus not only for assuming the EU Presidency but also for the findings of hydrocarbon reserves in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, works against Turkey itself, since it demonstrates that Ankara does not respect a member state of the Union and at the same time shows disrespect against the European institutions.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who held a meeting with President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias on the 29th of June in Brussels, expressed her discontent over Turkey’s stance against Cyprus and the EU. Similar statements were made by many other EU leaders and the President of the European Council.
President Christofias has stressed in statements to CNA some weeks before assuming the Presidency, that the Cyprus Presidency will be a European Presidency, that would only promote the Union’s interests as a whole, working as an honest broker, without any hidden agenda.
Nevertheless, he underlined that the role of the President does not mean that Nicosia will hide the Cyprus problem and the continuous Turkish occupation of part of its territory under the carpet.
The presidency will have to address very important and complex issues such as the political agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework for the years 2014-2020, which was described as one of the most difficult issues for the decade. The total EU budget for this period amounts to approximately one trillion euro. Cyprus should ensure the achievement of an agreement between the Member States, which have different approaches and interests, and the institutions of the Union.
It will also have to promote the decisions of the new Economic Strategy Europe 2020, the integrated policy on climate change, the re-launching of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy, the completion of the Common European Asylum System, the Southern Enlargement and Neighborhood policy, to boost growth and jobs, to deepen the single market and to promote a Sustainable and Green Development.
Cyprus is well aware of the fact that the only predictable during an EU presidency is that there will be a lot of unpredictable issues which the presidency will have to address and which may largely determine its success.
The cost of the presidency amounts to 61.7 million euro for the period 2011-2013. In comparison, the other two countries of the current trio presidency, Poland and Denmark have spent 36 and 100 million euro respectively