In his speech the President of the Federation Christos Karaolis said that the UK’s place is at the heart of the European Union: “It is in the best interests of our country, Europe and indeed Cyprus. Our membership of the European Union over the last 43 years has strengthened the UK’s security, boosted prosperity with jobs, trade and investment and enshrined protections for workers and women.”
Mr Karaolis added that a vote to leave the EU would damage Cyprus and urged his fellow UK Cypriots to use their crucial vote to reject Brexit. “Cyprus is one of the UK’s top 50 trading partners and the UK is Cyprus’s second biggest trading partner. However, it is not just trade and tourism that would be impacted. 10,000 Cypriot students study in the UK every year and many stay on afterwards and the UK has consistently been a strong ally of Cyprus in the European Council and its committees. So what message would we be sending back to Cyprus if, as a community, we voted to leave the European Union?” he asked. Closing the event he said “Let’s not be under any illusions. The vote of our diaspora is crucial in the EU referendum on June 23, so please make your vote count and vote to Remain in the European Union.”