-
.
- Ελληνικά
The European Parliament platform was and is for AKEL first and foremost a platform for action for the cause of the reunification of our homeland, the party's Secretary General Stefanos Stefanou said on Saturday, at a press conference of AKEL's account of its action in the EP for the first half of the 2019-2024 term.
In the address read on his behalf by AKEL parliamentary representative George Loukaides, as Mr. Stefanou is in quarantine due to coronavirus, he said that AKEL's presence in the EP is first and foremost a responsibility towards the Cypriot people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, workers and the young generation and towards European citizens.
This is what AKEL is like. A party that participates and does not abstain. A party that asserts and does not limit itself to statements. A party that has proposals and proposes solutions for the benefit of the many and does not remain only in reaction and rejection, he said.
Stefanou said that the inclusion of a Turkish Cypriot on AKEL's electoral list was a historic decision for Cyprus and its importance was highlighted when, he said, after the election of Niyazi Kiziljirek, the whole of Europe was concerned with it, noting its huge political weight for the prospect of the reunification of Cyprus.
At AKEL we are proud to have opened this historic page, he said.
The party's General Secretary noted that very often AKEL's criticism of the policies dominating the European Union is distorted as Euroscepticism but, he said, no special effort is needed to convince anyone that the left's warnings regarding the character and policies of the current EU have come true, as reflected in all the dramatic statistics on unemployment, poverty and inequalities.
Against the economic architecture and anti-labour policies that dominate the EU today, the coupling with NATO and militarisation, the democratic deficit and the rise of the far right, we - together with the Left of Europe - respond by claiming a Europe of peace, social equality, democracy, cooperation and multicultural societies, he said.
Stefanou stressed that AKEL's presence in the EP is and will continue to be assertive and creative and referred to the action of the two MEPs in the committees they participate in and their questions.
On behalf of AKEL, I convey our readiness to support this work even more, to open it even more to Cypriot society, to put European issues on the priorities of everyday politics in Cyprus as well, he said.
Statements by MEPs
George Georgiou said that with AKEL's bi-communal electoral list and the election of Niyazi Kiziliurek, we succeeded in cancelling the narrative of the supporters of partition, on both sides of the barbed wire fence, and to write history together, sending a strong message to Cyprus and Europe in favour of the necessity to lift the occupation and reunite our homeland and our people. And this was only the first step.
He said that AKEL is the only force that dares to speak about the need to bring about fundamental changes in the Union, in order to get rid of the neoliberal model and promote development policies, to fight poverty, to create new quality jobs, especially for young people, for real gender equality, to protect the environment, for social justice and peace.
Georgiou spoke of a democratic deficit and stressed that the Left is tirelessly and relentlessly resisting the forces that challenge people's achievements, democratic freedoms and social rights.
Our presence in our political group is decisive. That is why we have been entrusted to participate in very important committees, which decide on crucial issues such as Turkey's accession path, the Union's foreign policy, the European strategy on energy, the environment and health, the MEP said.
Indicatively, he referred to what the party has achieved or contributed to, such as the inclusion in Turkey's progress report of the need to implement its Cyprus obligations, the strengthening of labour rights, ensuring a decent minimum wage and support for micro-enterprises, the abolition of abusive clauses and protection of the right to housing, the increase of the budget for the health sector, the proposal to allocate 4.3 million euros to the EU budget, the proposal to increase the budget for the health sector, and the proposal to provide 4.3 million euros to the EU budget. from the 2022 Community budget for paediatric cancer and the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Niyazi Kiziljirek referred to the importance of cooperation with Turkish Cypriot forces, expressing the conviction that Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political forces, especially the forces of the solution, should continue such cooperation in the future as it is the best answer to nationalism and a meaningful development that will take the country out of the vicious circle of nationalism and chauvinism.
We are under no illusions and we are fully aware that Parliament's role is limited. Nevertheless, together with AKEL and the Left Group, we have sought over these two and a half years to put the interests of the underprivileged at the centre of our political priorities, he noted.
He referred to actions on issues concerning education and culture in the EU, particularly support for artists in times of pandemic, the teaching of history, renewable resources on EU islands, the repression of human rights in Turkey, with particular reference to the Kavala and Demirtas cases, and issues concerning the Turkish Cypriot community.
These included the promotion of the Turkish language, the safeguarding of halalumi and support for the community during the pandemic, Turkey's allegations of interference in the internal affairs of the community and demographic change as well as better implementation of the Green Line Regulation.
Source: CNA
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
