Remarks by the President of the Republic of Cyprus at the opening of the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, presided today over an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, at the Presidential Palace, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union (EU), Ms Thérèse Blanchet.

In his opening remarks, President Christodoulides said: “Let me start by extending a very warm welcome to the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, Ms Thérèse Blanchet, as well, of course, to the Director-General of the General and Institutional Policy, Mr Didier Seeuws.

The first point I wish to make is one that I have been making consistently here at the Ministerial Council since assuming office. The upcoming Presidency is a top priority for this Government. So, the timing of your visit is as important as it is valuable – less than 65 days – to the assumption of the Presidency of the Council by Cyprus, and at the moment when our over two-year preparations are at the final stretch and coming together. As we embark on this very important assignment, we are preparing methodically, intensively to deliver to an ambitious, pragmatic, and, of course, results-oriented Presidency. As honest brokers, always in the spirit of sincere cooperation, in an inclusive and transparent manner, we are well aware of the high stakes for our Union, of the need to come together to deliver. Fostering consensus to secure tangible results.

Within this context, the General Secretariat of the Council has been a very important, very valuable partner – I will say a key institutional source of support throughout our preparations, providing continuity and valuable logistical support, and, of course, policy expertise. We are very deeply appreciative of you and your team for your constant support and input.

As you know, we are navigating complex and, in some respects, unprecedented geopolitical dynamics – dynamics that challenge us but also push us into action. The European Union can – and I am sure that it will – navigate these dynamics, standing in the midst of it as a stable, predictable, responsible actor committed to its core values, and projecting and securing its interests. And, of course, as I mentioned before, working for autonomy on all fronts – for more independence, more integration.

This actually resonates strongly here in Cyprus, the Union’s southeastern frontier in the geopolitically important region of the Eastern Mediterranean, of the greater Middle East, and, of course, the Union’s last member state under military occupation. Security and defence, continuing and stepping up our support to Ukraine, which is a litmus test for the European Union and our security architecture, bolstering our competitiveness, doing things in simpler, faster, smarter way through simplification, expanding and deepening our weapon of international trade agreements and our strategic partnerships, leading in innovation, expanding our space of security and stability through enlargement, delivering more to our citizens – all points of reference for the Cyprus Presidency.

At the same time, our Presidency will lead the Union at a moment when we will need to decisively progress negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). It will need to be a strategic MFF that allow us to implement our strategic priorities, to be relevant and also resilient.

Over the past months, the whole Ministerial Council has proactively engaged with its institutions, our Trio, of course, the member states, and the European Parliament to prepare the ground and gain a clear understanding of the evolving political dynamics that impact the European Union agenda and the performance of the rotating Presidency.

So, without further ado, I am delighted to pass the floor to the Secretary-General of the Council for her presentation”.

(GS/NZ)

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