Anastasiades to address EUMED summit on climate

President Nicos Anastasiades will on Friday outline Cyprus’ initiative to deal with the effects of climate change during the EUMED Summit in Athens.

The summit is being held this year with the participation of nine countries, as Slovenia and Croatia will attend for the first time.

Leaders are expected to discuss among other things, issues on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as efforts to manage the coronavirus pandemic, migration, transition to a green economy, environmental protection and issues regarding the tackling of the effects of climate change.

Following an initiative by Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, this year’s MED9 Summit will focus on the climate crisis and the need for joint action and cooperation among Mediterranean countries.

Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis and his counterparts from the participating countries will attend the first part of the summit which focuses on environment and climate change.

In his speech, the president is expected to refer to the initiative he has taken in dealing with the effects of climate change.

Cyprus aims to bring together leading scientists and heads of relevant international organisations for policy-making in the wider region, and under their coordination, to find practical and feasible solutions to common problems.

An important step in this direction is the second international conference on climate change in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, which will be held in Cyprus between October 13 and 15.

During the summit, taking place at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, Anastasiades will also brief other state leaders on the developments in the Cyprus problem and the ongoing Turkish provocations.

State leaders will also attend a working dinner during which they will discuss the situation in Afghanistan among other issues.

Apart from the leaders of Cyprus and Greece, the summit will be attended by President of France Emanuel Macron, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, Prime Minister of Croatia Andrei Plenkovi, President of Cyprus Anastasia M Robert Ambela, the Prime Minister of Slovenia Janez Jansa, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal Augusto Santos Silva.

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will also participate.

Anastasiades will after travel to New York for the UN General Assembly where he will meet the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.