Cyprus’ goal during its upcoming EU presidency is to enhance the EU’s strategic autonomy and bring the EU closer to the region, President Nikos Christodoulides told visiting President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola during a meeting at the presidential palace on Monday.

Christodoulides told a joint press conference that Cyprus’ cooperation with the EP was essential and decisive for the production of policies and legislation that will have “a positive impact on the daily lives of European citizens”.

Replying, Metsola said the EP was looking forward to working closely with the Cyprus presidency on a broad range if issues, including Ukraine, migration, the multiannual financial framework and affordable housing.

She added that the Cyprus problem was a shared European issue and expressed hope that the Cyprus presidency could serve as an accelerator for a solution.

During their press conference, Christodoulides referred to the Cyprus presidency’s priorities, which included security and defence, maritime security, crisis management, migration, competitiveness, affordable housing, energy prices and “the safety of our children on the internet”.

On the multiannual financial framework, Christodoulides said Cyprus would strive for progress in negotiations with the aim of “reaching a political soliton the soonest possible”.

Addressing Metsola, Christodoulides expressed certainty that through their cooperation and coordination “we will be able to promote key issues on the European agenda always to the benefit of the European citizens”.

“Now, more than ever, taking into consideration developments on an international level, is the time for unity and consensus,” he added.

Metsola said Cyprus assumes the EU presidency “at a time of rapid change, but also at a moment of rising expectations from our citizens – we know we must push further on security, on competitiveness and on our simplification agenda”.

“With Cyprus in charge as a strong partner, I know that we will deliver and we will deliver together,” she said.

Metsola thanked Christodoulides “for your leadership, for your friendship and the extraordinary efforts of Cyprus from the Middle East to Ukraine, because this shows us what determination looks like and we know that with this leadership that you have already shown us, Europe will be in good hands over the next six months”.

Referring to the multiannual financial framework, Metsola said “we need a framework that is strategic in what it prioritises, that is responsible on how it spends and flexible in how it responds”.

“We are at the beginning of this process but we are very confident that with Cyprus with an ally that we will make very good progress in the coming months, because we need to have this concluded in one year from today and the situation is quite challenging,” she added.

CYPRUS PROBLEM

Regarding the Cyprus problem, Metsola reaffirmed that “Cyprus can count on Europe”.

“We don’t talk about a Cyprus problem, but a shared European issue. The EP will always be on your side towards a single, sovereign European state, a bicommunal, bizonal federation, in line with UN resolutions and routed in our shared values and EU law,” she said.

Metsola expressed hope that “the Cyprus presidency can act and serve as an accelerator for this”.

UKRAINE

Christodoulides reiterated that Cyprus’ “unwavering support to the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine will continue to constitute a priority during the Cypriot presidency”.

“Cyprus is a member state under military occupation. We know firsthand the importance of defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of a state,” he added.

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Referring to the region, Christodoulides said Cyprus’ EU presidency would act as a bridge of cooperation and a point of convergence for the interests of the EU and the US.

He added that Turkey was a candidate for accession to the EU and reiterated his intention to invite the Turkish president and foreign minister to the informal EU council to be held in Cyprus in April, adding that it was up to them if they would attend or not.

Christodoulides also pointed out that improving EU relations with the states in the broader Middle East and beyond was of “particular importance”.

“In this context, as the member state closest to the region and with excellent relations with all neighbouring countries, we will serve as a bridge of cooperation and tightening ties with our region,” he said.

He added that “we will work for a more strategically substantive approach that will enhance dialogue, cooperation and stability.”

Metsola said that “Cyprus at the helm will help push forward a real geopolitical Europe”, adding that this would “increase our strength and our coherence”.

“Cyprus has really shown it could help so many people in the Middle East in terms of humanitarian aid and it is a model that we should praise […] and emulate,” she added.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Replying to a question on affordable housing, Christodoulides said the issue was mainly “a national responsibility”, however as it was a European challenge, the government was awaiting the European Commission plan for affordable housing over the next two weeks.

Christodoulides pointed out it would be helpful if measures to promote affordable housing were coupled with grants to better tackle this challenge.

Metsola said affordable housing was “high on everyone’s agenda and we are very glad to see that Cyprus will have it as one of your priorities”.

“We have long called for a European affordable housing plan and we look forward to an ambitious Commission proposal,” she added.

The EP president said it was “important that we recognise it as a problem”.

PRIVATE MEETING

In brief remarks at the beginning of the meeting, Christodoulides said Cyprus’ EU presidency – one month away – was “for a small member state a national mission”.

Metsola pointed out that it was a tradition for the European Parliament to visit the country of the presidency before it assumed it “in order for us to be able to hit the ground running”.

Christodoulides said Cyprus had two main goals, the first being to enhance the strategic autonomy of the EU in terms of entrepreneurship, competitiveness, defence and security, migration, the multiannual financial framework, housing, etc.

The second goal was bringing the EU much closer to the region, “this region of greater political importance, and we need to see concrete outcomes, substantial progress towards enhancing our relations with the region.

“We know very well that in order to have a successful presidency, we need to work with the European Parliament and there is a clear political will to work together in order to have a successful outcome,” he said.

Metsola said it was a pleasure and an honour for her to once again be in Cyprus, this time accompanied by the Conference of EP Presidents, which brings together all the leaders of the political groups.

“We have eight political groups here to discuss the next six months,” she said.

“The workload that we are going to have is very high. We are now, I would say, at legislative speed in terms of the amount of files that are open on the table. In fact, our data shows that we have over 250 open legislative files, not least files that will be needed to complete the migration pact, the multiannual financial framework, climate legislation, digital legislation, simplification, which the European Parliament takes very seriously, all of which require our work, finding majorities in the Parliament, but also your team of ministers, yourself, led by you,” she added.

Metsola said “we can only say, as we have known you for a long time, that not only will we be your partner, but that we share a lot of the goals and that our colleagues in the parliament are extremely looking forward to working with you and your team”.

SPOKESMAN

In a post on X, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the meeting was “a clear confirmation of the commitment and readiness of Cyprus for a successful, trustworthy and effective presidency, just 30 days before it assumes it”.

He added that the meeting “gives the opportunity to express the will for close cooperation with the European Parliament, so that the legislative files and in general the work of the Union can progress.

“The organisational and institutional readiness of the Cypriot presidency is full in Nicosia and Brussels,” Letymbiotis said.

The spokesman pointed out that the priorities of Cyprus were being presented, highlighting the need for coordination in issues such as supporting Ukraine, the multiannual financial framework, security and defence, competitiveness, enlargement, immigration, energy and climate, world trade and affordable housing.