Cyprus calls for the appointment of an EU maritime commissioner

Cyprus and Greece have launched an initiative for the appointment of an EU Commissioner for maritime and shipping affairs from 2024, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Saturday.

Speaking at the launch of the “Sea-2023” festival in Limassol, Christodoulides said that the EU does not give the required attention to the importance of the shipping sector, adding that he has discussed the matter with leaders in Malta, Iceland and Greece.

The president explained that the request will be made officially after the elections in Greece, noting that the private sectors in both Greece and Cyprus also support the move.

The hope is that by the time the new commission is appointed in 2024 there will be a new post of a commissioner who will deal with shipping.

“It is not only its importance in the EU economy, there is a geostrategic importance, you see what is happening today, you see the implications that are arising through the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the implications that arose previously because of the coronavirus crisis, and we believe that the EU clearly through the existence of a commissioner who will deal with maritime issues, will also show the required importance,” the president concluded.