The Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou, spoke to CNA about the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency in Social Policy, while in Brussels for the EU Employment and Social Affairs Council (EPSCO), as well as to take part in events at the European Institutions for the European Disability Week.
“From January 1st and for six months, Cyprus will serve as the driving force of discussions among the member states in the EU Council,” Evangelou stated, noting that the main pillar for Cyprus is “the commitment to substantive inclusion and a better tomorrow for all. Cyprus has set as a key priority the guarantee of a better future for children and the elimination of poverty and social exclusion.” Additionally, “the third area on which we will focus is long-term care and active ageing. We are promoting a better quality of life for older people, as this is a challenge faced by all EU member states due to population ageing and demographic challenges. This is an essential part of our work,” the Deputy Minister stressed.
Asked about the strategy for persons with disabilities, Evangelou said: “We aim to improve the integration of persons with disabilities into the broader social fabric, and this is a priority for us at national level as well. For this reason, we are promoting new, innovative legislation. At the European level, we look forward to the second phase of the European Disability Strategy during our Presidency.”
Responding to a CNA question regarding the tools Cyprus will bring to the table for the elimination of poverty, the Deputy Minister referred to the European Anti-Poverty Strategy, which is currently under discussion. “We expect its announcement during our Presidency. We will also combine this framework with the European Child Guarantee, acting in a coordinated manner to eliminate child poverty as well,” she added. Regarding Cyprus, Evangelou highlighted the following: “For Cyprus, we are pleased to say that we have achieved the targets set by the European Union and the Barcelona Strategy much earlier than the timeframe established by the European Commission. Of course, we continue to work towards achieving even better results,” she stressed.
The Deputy Minister noted that, in the context of her presence and after an invitation from the European Commission, she will participate together with the Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, in a conference for the European Disability Week, where she will present the actions and planning of the Cypriot Presidency on disability issues. Furthermore, the Depudy Minister is attending the Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, participating in a discussion panel as part of the events for the European Disability Week.
