Cypriot MEP Lefteris Christoforou has expressed the view that there are more funding opportunities in Europe that Cyprus could take advantage of.
Speaking to journalists during a working lunch, on Friday, Christoforou noted that despite belonging to different political groups, Cypriot MEPs work as a team in the European Parliament and that they have the support of their European colleagues.
He also spoke of the opportunities for Cyprus within the EU in areas such as energy, agriculture and tourism.
Referring to the Juncker strategic investment fund, due to take effect from September onwards, he urged Cypriots to study the criteria and make an effort to take part in it. Tourism is one of the areas that has been included in the areas of priority of the fund following the efforts of Cypriot MEPs, he said.
Cypriot MEPs work as a team
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Referring to the six Cypriot MEPs, Christoforou, who belongs to the European People`s Party (EPP) said that “we work as a team, despite belonging to different political groups.”
He recalled that there are 751 MEPs from 28 different member states and from 100 different parties. If one takes into consideration the way decisions are made and the fact that all these different forces must converge, “you can imagine how difficult it is”, he pointed out.
During the time he has been an MEP, he said, there have been important reports and resolutions voted by the European Parliament which concern Cyprus and had the support of their European counterparts.
Cyprus important for energy security in Europe
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At the same time Christoforou said that he worked together with Cypriot MEP Neoklis Sylikiotis to include Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean in European Parliament reports on energy security.
“We have argued that the EU should invest in energy infrastructure in areas where it is apparent that there is a prospect for the EU`s self – sufficiency,” he noted.
Our message to our European partners is that the EU should use Cyprus and its cooperation with Greece, Israel and Egypt. “This region could become a good energy hub for Europe,” he said.
Cyprus can absorb more EU funds
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The Cypriot MEP also pointed out that Cyprus can absorb more EU funds than the ones it has already absorbed.
As a member of the European Parliament`s Committee on Budgets, he said that 40% of the EU budget is invested directly or indirectly in agriculture.
Therefore, he added, Cyprus should continue to focus in agriculture because there are possibilities and prospects for it to absorb more funds.
It was apparent from the discussion which followed that there are EU funds to be claimed in areas such as green growth in agriculture and for young farmers.
At the same time, Christoforou spoke of the new European Strategic Investments Fund, noting that there are different priorities including tourism, thanks to the efforts of Cypriot MEPs.
According to Christoforou, Cyprus has “huge comparative advantages compared with other EU countries.”
Today, he pointed out, there aren`t many possibilities for an influx of cash flow to kick-start the Cypriot economy.
One way would be to make the most of the opportunities within the EU and the other would be to find foreign private investments, he noted.
He added that the EU way will be the easier one to follow comparatively.
