President Nikos Christodoulides will discuss the multiple challenges facing the EU in his speech before the European Parliament on Tuesday, Government Spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis said.
The president will travel to Strasbourg on Monday, to address the plenary session of the EU parliament, by invitation of President Roberta Metsola, in the context of the This is Europe Debate.
“Christodoulides will present his vision for our great European family and the path towards European integration… addressing the multiple challenges we have to manage together… such as immigration, the environmental crisis, energy, and the need to transition to a green economy,” Letymbiotis said.
These are the issues in which the Republic wants to play a role and have a say, acting as a reliable partner among the states of the region, the spokesman added.
The president will reiterate the readiness of Cyprus to “act as a bridge of understanding and stability, in a framework of cooperation, based on inviolable adherence to international law,” the statement continued.
Christodoulides is expected to develop before the plenary his proposal for a more active involvement of the EU in efforts to end the Cyprob impasse, and for the immediate resumption of negotiations within the agreed UN framework.
The president intends to pass on a clear message that the Republic of Cyprus is the common home of all legal residents, whose rights are respected without discrimination and exceptions.
“Nineteen years since its accession to the European Union…Cyprus looks forward to the contribution of our partners for the implementation of European principles and values and the rule of law against the illegality [of] continued Turkish occupation of part of the Cypriot territory, which is part of European territory,” the official statement concluded.
Following his arrival, on Monday evening Christodoulides will attend a working dinner with the six Cypriot MEPs.
The following day, he will travel to the EU parliament where he will be greeted by its president, Roberta Metsola, followed by an official welcoming ceremony.
The two presidents will then have a meeting to discuss the Cyprus problem, the migration problem and other issues of European interest, where after Christodoulides will address the plenary session of the European parliament.
Comments and questions from MEPs will ensue, followed by President Christodoulides’ second speech.
He will also meet President of the European People’s Party (ELK) Manfred Weber, followed by a lunch to be attended by the vice-presidents of the European parliament and the vice-presidents of the EPP.
In the evening, the president will depart for Vienna for a one-day working visit on Wednesday.
