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I would like to refer to four points.
The first one, which I have mentioned many times these days and I will not tire of repeating it, is that our accession to the European Union (EU) in 2004 was the most important success of the Republic of Cyprus since its foundation in 1960, and has positively influenced all aspects of our daily life.
The second point I would like to make tonight is the fact that as EU Member States we should not go to Brussels - and many of the Government Ministers are here - thinking that Brussels is only for the Cyprus problem or for Euro-Turkish issues. No. Brussels affects our daily lives and one of the most basic objectives of our governance, which we have discussed since the first Cabinet, is that by going to Brussels we are not spectators. The third point is that precisely because the EU is so important to our country, I want to take this opportunity tonight to call on people to participate en masse in the elections for members of the European Parliament. A high participation rate from our country will also send a strong message to Brussels about how important our approach to the EU really is. And since we as a State, and I am sure the Parliament and the parties, approach and understand the importance of the EU, as well as all of you, the Cypriot people, this importance must be translated into a high participation rate in the elections for members of the European Parliament.
Fourth point, I just ask you - I will not tell you the benefits of the EU - to consider how our country could have faced so many challenges since 2004 if we were not an EU member state. Let me limit myself to coronavirus - our Commissioner is with us tonight - and how small Cyprus, in the crisis created by coronavirus, could have secured vaccines for the Cypriot people if we were not an EU Member State. It would not only be very difficult, it would possibly be impossible. There are many such examples. I must say that coming to this event from two other events I did not imagine it would be so successful. So, you are to be congratulated.
(PM/EATH)
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