The heads of state and government who participated in the EU Mediterranean Summit that took place in Athens on Friday, expressed their support towards the Cyprus negotiation process, “for a just, viable and comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, without guarantees, based on the relevant UNSC resolutions and the status of Cyprus as an EU member state”.
In the Athens Declaration they issued on Friday after the conclusion of the Summit,the Heads of State and Government of the Republic of Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain, who have gathered in Athens with the aim of enhancing their cooperation and to contribute to the dialogue on the future of the EU, stressed that “the EU must strengthen our capacity to guarantee the security of our citizens and our territory and live up to our responsibility to respond to crises and act for peace and stability in our environment and in the world, in support of a Common Security and Defence Policy and in full compliance with the UN Charter. To this end, we need to enhance our cooperation and our commons means in the areas of security and defence, in a spirit of solidarity”.
“Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states as well as the inviolability of borders must remain fundamental principles for the EU. In this respect, we support the negotiation process, for a just, viable and comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, without guarantees, based on the relevant UNSC resolutions and the status of Cyprus as an EU member state” they underlined.
In their declaration, they stress their strong commitment to European unity and their firm conviction that, “by acting together, our countries are stronger and European citizens in a better position to control their future”.
They also refer to Brexit, noting that “We respect the desire of the British people expressed in the recent referendum. The notification of the UK intention to withdraw from the EU should be done as soon as possible. In the future, we hope to have the UK, as a close partner of the EU”.
They note that the European Union needs a new impulse in order to address the common challenges the Member States are facing, upholding its values of freedom, democracy and rule of law, as well as tolerance and solidarity.
Referring to the informal Summit in Bratislava on 16th September they say it should lay the political basis for this new vision, the essential priorities for the future, as well as an agenda with concrete initiatives to be adopted.
The EU Med countries note that the EU should scale up all its cooperation and financing with a view to support the efforts of our partners to ensure their own security, to fight against irregular migration and to foster their economic development.
Furthermore, they note that Europe must keep its promise of prosperity and social justice and foster investment by doubling the financing capacity of the European Fund for Strategic Investment (“Juncker Plan”), focusing on key priorities such as digital economy, low-carbon projects for energy, including energy interconnections and transport, infrastructure as well as research and training.
As regards migration, they point out that a comprehensive EU migration policy should include
making the European system for asylum more effective and more convergent, by reviewing the Dublin system on the basis of the principles of responsibility and solidarity, in particular towards the front-line states.
Also, “stepping up the secondment of personnel to FRONTEX and EASO for the support of the asylum systems of front-line states,implementing European Council’s conclusions regarding the need to accelerate relocation, which is still advancing at very low rate; pursuing the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement in order to continue to prevent tragic deaths and migration flows in the Aegean”.
They agree to continue their exchange on the priorities for the future of Europe as well as on cooperation in the Mediterranean.
The 2nd Summit of Mediterranean EU countries will be held in Portugal.
CNA/AAR/2016