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- Ελληνικά
Thursday, 23 November 2023
The Speaker of the House of Representatives received the Vice-President and Members of the European Senior Citizens' Association
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Anita Demetriou received today a delegation of the European Senior Citizens' Association (ECA), headed by its Vice-President Heinz K. Becker, which was also attended by the Secretary General of the ECA Mr. Guido Dumon, the Treasurer of the ECA Mr. Etienne Vanderroost and the President of the Cyprus Senior Citizens' Organisation Mr. Antonis Demetriades.
During the meeting, the need to reduce the gap between generations was underlined and views were exchanged on possible ways of cooperation and better communication between elders and young people. Becker welcomed the development of the National Strategy and National Action Plan for the Third Age of the Republic of Cyprus, noting that Cyprus can be a successful example for other European countries that have not yet done so. Noting the recent holding of the 24th Session of the House of Elders, Mrs Demetriou underlined the importance of the contribution of senior citizens to society as a whole, through their valuable knowledge and experience and their utilisation and integration into society to address the complex challenges that the European Union (EU) is currently facing. Referring to the growing instability due to successive crises and their consequences, which, as she pointed out, leads to further toxicity and extremism, the President of the Parliament stressed that the answer to these challenges is to safeguard European principles and values and to shield democracy through synergy. She stressed the importance of inspirational leadership with clear objectives and simple and understandable discourse, so that citizens feel involved and participate in decisions that affect them and their trust in the institutions is restored.
Drawing a parallel between the case of Cyprus and that of Ukraine, Demetriou criticized the logic of two measures and two stations on the part of the international community and stressed the importance of consistency of all EU Member States, as well as candidate countries, in the implementation of sanctions. He underlined the need for more unity within the EU on key issues such as the migration issue, which, he said, in the light of the escalating violence in the Middle East and the prospect of new migratory flows, requires a collective response at European level, in the framework of a revised Pact on Immigration and Asylum, based on solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility.
As politicians, the President of the Parliament stressed, we must give a clear message to citizens about our willingness to work in unity to address key challenges and the problems they face, using the many tools at our disposal.
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