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Your Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus,
Your Excellency the Speaker of the Parliament of Malta, Dr. Farugia,
Honourable First Deputy Speaker of the Greek Parliament, Mr Plakiotakis,
Honourable Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Lithuania, Mrs Morgunate-Mikulinine,
Honourable Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Slovenia, Mr Krivets,
Honorable European Commissioner, Mrs Kyriakidou,
Honorable Attorney General of the Republic,
Honorable President of the Supreme Court,
Honorable Ambassadors,
Honorable Members of the European Parliament,
Honorable Member of the European Court of Auditors,
Honorable President of the Association of Former Members of the Parliament of the Republic of Cyprus,
Honorable Independent Officers and Commissioners,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The anniversary of Cyprus' accession to the European family, accompanied by the extremely honourable presence of our distinguished guests at today's meeting, marks the completion of two decades of the largest enlargement in the history of the European Union: an unprecedented and defining moment for the future of ten Eastern and Southern European countries that fulfilled the dreams and aspirations of a generation of millions of Europeans.
The edifice we call the European Union (EU) is undoubtedly one of the most important achievements of Europe's modern democratic history. The Republic of Cyprus proudly joined the most successful peace project in human history, which has provided and continues to provide political stability, economic prosperity and social progress in a continent deeply scarred by bloody conflicts and wars.
Over time, the EU has become one of the most powerful economies and, as a political union of states, has developed, alongside its other policies, a pioneering social system, while becoming the largest provider of humanitarian aid. It is for these reasons that the Republic of Cyprus has vigorously pursued its accession to the EU, in addition to the effort to strengthen its position in the context of efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.
But we should not forget that the celebration of the 20th anniversary of our accession to the European family is overshadowed by another grim anniversary for Cyprus and for Europe: that of fifty (50) years since the illegal Turkish invasion and the continued military occupation of 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, which, it is worth noting, is an integral part of the territory of the EU.
The Turkish invasion continues to be a lingering wound in the history of our country, highlighting the timeless need to safeguard the security of our country and restore the rights of all its citizens; because in the minds of all Cypriot citizens, membership of the EU represents the ardent desire for peace, security and progress, within the framework of a union of states that has respect for fundamental rights and freedoms as its compass. This is also why the strategic choice of our accession to the European edifice has been the object of collective political support and effort, irrespective of any ideological differences.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Historically, the path of the Republic of Cyprus towards accession to the European family, the beginning of which is marked by the signing of the Association Agreement in 1972, has been a difficult and arduous journey, the remembrance of which cannot leave out the late Yiannos Kranidiotis, Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece, who with his inspired policy and European vision was the first to conceive the idea of Cyprus' accession to the Union as a full member, an idea supported without hesitation by the then Minister responsible for European Affairs, the late Theodoros Pangalos. This idea had been judged to be a decisive factor in securing the security of Cyprus and a catalyst for the resolution of the Cyprus problem. In this direction, the contribution of former Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who, in the context of the Helsinki European Council in December 1999, succeeded in securing Cyprus' accession to the EU, irrespective of the course of the resolution of our national issue, was also of particular importance. Following the submission of the membership application in 1990 and the positive opinion of the European Commission on Cyprus' eligibility in 1993, accession negotiations began in 1998 under the presidency of the late Glafkos Clerides, led by the negotiator and former President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. George Vassiliou, to whom we as a country owe respect and honour for their decisive contribution to the successful conclusion of the whole effort, a titanic effort made by all state institutions for the timely conclusion of the accession negotiations and the incorporation into Cypriot legislation of a huge volume of European legislation, standards and requirements of the European acquis, through fast-track procedures and within extremely tight deadlines. It is worth noting that, during the pre-accession phase, the House of Representatives, by examining and adopting more than one thousand (1000) harmonising laws in the framework of a specially defined fast-track procedure, was the main axis for the implementation of the national objective for EU accession. The successful conclusion of the whole effort was sealed by the signing of the Accession Treaty in Athens in 2003 by the then President of the Republic of Cyprus, the late Tassos Papadopoulos. Thus, on 1 May 2004, the Republic of Cyprus formally joined the Union along with nine (9) other candidate countries - the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Unfortunately, due to the Turkish invasion and division of our homeland, our Turkish Cypriot fellow citizens are absent from the accession process of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU, despite the fact that the then leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community was invited to participate jointly with the Greek Cypriots in the accession negotiations, an invitation that was unfortunately rejected. I recall at this point that our country joined the EU with its entire territory, but with the implementation of the European acquis suspended in the areas occupied by the Turkish army. The peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the agreed framework and the United Nations resolutions, remains for all of us an immovable objective of primary importance, so that all citizens of Cyprus - Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins - to enjoy the benefits of EU membership in conditions of freedom and peace; an objective that runs counter to the intransigence and unacceptable positions of the Turkish side for a two-state solution, in violation of international law and outside the agreed parameters of the United Nations.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Two decades later, we are able to boast that Cyprus has made spectacular progress in various areas of the everyday life of the European citizen. Membership of the European family has provided invaluable opportunities, being instrumental in promoting positive changes, from economic growth to enhanced social cohesion and from environmental sustainability to cultural interactions and the enhancement of all aspects of human rights. Cyprus' access to the single market has further been a catalyst in boosting trade and investment, while financial financing through European programmes has fuelled infrastructure development and innovation. The far-reaching benefits of EU membership are thus becoming visible and tangible, touching the lives of every Cypriot citizen.
Of course, the EU of 2024 is not the same as the European Communities of 1958. Each enlargement and each amendment of the Treaties has made a catalytic contribution to the creation of a vibrant space for the meeting of cultures, the mixing of ideas and political compromise, so that the Union functions as a nucleus for promoting democracy and progress based on a shared commitment to unity and solidarity through common values.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In a rapidly changing environment, we as the EU have been and are being called upon to collectively address a series of successive and mutually reinforcing crises, such as the deep crisis in the Eurozone, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other more recent crises such as the migration crisis, the invasion of Ukraine and the war in Gaza with its attendant adverse economic, energy and social consequences. The EU, however, has managed and continues to survive and to strengthen its integration and cohesion through the effort to collectively find solutions against the sirens of Euroscepticism and populism. So if there is one thing that is a real asset of the Union, it is its ability to adapt to the demands of the times, demonstrating the resilience of the European vision on which it is based.
With the same perseverance and determination, the EU must continue to successfully tackle and current challenges. A prerequisite, however, is to maintain - also within the Union - a competitive economy that uses its resources efficiently to encourage innovation and job creation, focusing on the new generation and the skills needed through digital transformation. However, addressing everyday challenges such as ensuring social justice and decent employment, improving health and combating misinformation requires the development of coherent and ambitious policies based on the strengthening of democracy and the more active participation of citizens - especially women and young people - in the decision-making process.
Equally important for the realisation of the EU's long-term objectives is the strengthening of its geopolitical role. In this context, today more than ever, it is necessary to ensure the autonomy of the Union and its independence from external and unpredictable factors. Achieving strategic autonomy must not remain a theoretical concept, but must be translated into practical initiatives, first and foremost by creating a common European defence capable of making a decisive contribution to preventing geopolitical conflicts.
The events currently unfolding in the Middle East, a region in Europe's neighbourhood, leave no room for inaction. It is therefore imperative that the European Union takes a leading role, not only because of its geographical proximity to the Middle East, but also because these developments, in addition to their immediate humanitarian impact, tend to trigger a wider regional conflict.
The current regional conflicts have led to the aggravation of a pre-existing crisis that has already been mentioned: the migration crisis, which has now become one of the most serious challenges for the EU and which rightly concerns Cyprus as a frontline country. The recent reform of immigration and asylum policy is an important step towards creating a framework that will protect both migrants and Member States. Despite the progress made, the Union must move decisively towards more effective management of the problem through concrete actions involving the countries of origin and trafficking of irregular migrants. It is in these cases that the concept of European solidarity and the emergence of the Union as a leading power in the world must take on real meaning.
Ladies and gentlemen,
A breath before the forthcoming European elections in June, we reaffirm our strong commitment to the values of democracy and freedom that unite Member States in defending the cohesion of the EU through coordinated action that responds to the concerns and aspirations of European citizens. Moreover, there could be no better occasion to mark the twenty (20) years since the last major enlargement of the EU than to encourage citizens to participate in large numbers in the upcoming European electoral process, shaping the future of Europe and strengthening our sense of common European identity.
As we collectively chart our common course for the future, the Republic of Cyprus is present and ready to contribute constructively to the continued deepening and prosperity of the Union. As a small, resilient and responsible state governed by the rule of law, we have the potential to play our own important role, in cooperation with our partners, in shaping the destiny of our continent for future generations.
Beyond this, Cyprus aspires to contribute substantially to the energy independence of the Union and to become an energy hub of peace in the wider Mediterranean region. Through the country's excellent relations with the Eastern Mediterranean states with hydrocarbon reserves, conditions of lasting security and prosperity can undoubtedly be built. As a Member State at the forefront of the Union's relations with the countries of the region, the Republic of Cyprus, through the creation of the Amalthea humanitarian corridor to Gaza, has demonstrated the key role it can play in promoting peace, prosperity and stability. In the same direction, the House of Representatives, within the framework of parliamentary diplomacy, has clearly demonstrated that it is not sparing in its efforts, but on the contrary, it is tirelessly active in order to strengthen and consolidate the role played by our European Cyprus in international and European affairs.
Your Excellencies and Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The completion of twenty (20) years since the accession of Cyprus to the European family, is but a renewal of our commitment to our partners, but above all to all European citizens for a better future based on European ideals, as first expressed in the historic Suman Declaration of 1950.
The EU is not just a geographical area, a political union, a symbol or an idea. The EU embodies, first and foremost, the aspirations of millions of European citizens who look forward to achieving a common goal, that of peace, prosperity and solidarity between Member States, ensuring principles, values and ideals and putting forward democratic, achievable policies to deal with them that seal the continuation of this great European edifice into the future.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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