Listening to the voices of EU citizens

Director in DG Communication, European Parliament Stephen Clark was in Cyprus recently to get to know the country and its people. He sat down with the Cyprus Mail to answer questions on Europe and its parliament

What is the Conference on the Future of Europe about to change in the EU, and why is the current situation expected to be crucial for changes in the future?

The Conference on the Future of Europe is a radical experiment by the EU institutions in listening to the voices of citizens from right across Europe. And it has been set up to ensure that it is not just the usual interlocutors who will have their say, but a genuine cross section of society, representing all age groups, all shades of opinion. It is a response to a widespread feeling that as Europe grows ever more important in people’s lives, it needs to adapt to a changing world and meet their expectations. It is intended as an ideas-generating machine, whereby a bottom-up approach will create an impetus for European leaders to drive through positive change.

After your recent visit to Cyprus, how effectively do you think the EU will work to help resolve the Cyprus problem?

This was my first visit to Cyprus and I have indeed been on a steep personal learning curve during my stay. What is abundantly clear to me is that the current situation cries out for an urgent solution, but also that it is fiendishly complex, with a multiplicity of players involved. However, the bottom line is surely that the EU cannot indefinitely accept a situation whereby EU territory lies outside the effective control of a Member State government and EU law cannot be applied. Nor one that comes at such a high cost for EU citizens. It is ultimately a matter of credibility and profound principle. The European Parliament in numerous resolutions reaffirmed that it stands by the Republic of Cyprus and of course stands by the people of Cyprus in full solidarity. The status quo in Cyprus is unacceptable for the EU, which has made it absolutely clear that there can be no other settlement of the Cyprus problem than a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the values and principles upon which the EU is founded.

What is the role of the European Parliament in the everyday lives of Cypriot citizens?

The EP has played an important part in people’s daily lives for a long time, making laws at European level that are transposed through national governments to affect people’s lives, at times quite profoundly. But it is not necessarily immediately obvious to everyone because of the processes we use. I feel though that perceptions are now changing. In part, this is because of the Covid pandemic, which thrust Europe and its institutions into the front line. Now we all realise, for example, that the vaccine rollout was managed by the EU, that the SafePass is a European initiative to free up our continent again, and that unprecedented funds are being mobilised to help Europe recover and face the challenges of the future.

What are the European Parliament’s main priorities for 2022?

The priorities of the Parliament are the priorities of the citizens who elect it. And we know the big challenges of our age… Climate change, that we now directly see happening around us, is of course at the top of the agenda, which means implementing the Green Deal, directing funding and resources into climate friendly technologies. Digital transformation is also vital, ensuring Europe’s capacities and competitiveness in a world dominated by new technologies. Particularly after Afghanistan, we must also look anew at Europe’s place in the world, its relations with great powers and powerful neighbours, as well as how we manage the fallout of international instability, for example in the form of migration. One thing is clear: all these and more are challenges we can only address by acting together as Europeans.

What worries you most about the future of European integration?

What worries me most is that, maybe through the temptations of populist rhetoric, the lure of easy answers and even the spread of deliberate misinformation, we lose sight of that fundamental truth: we need to work and act together, our common interests are greater than anything that separates us and the values we share are more fundamental, more important, than the fears and divisions that sometimes cloud our vision.