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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs Anita Demetriou, participated today in the work of the Conference of Speakers of the Parliaments of the Member States of the European Union (EU), The main topic of discussion was "Strategic autonomy of the EU vis-à-vis the new challenges for liberal democracies in the age of social media and artificial intelligence, in relation to foreign and defence policy: Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East".
In her intervention during the debate, the President said that world peace cannot be protected if there is no strong political leadership at the helm of the EU. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Demetriou noted, was a wake-up call for the security of the EU itself, while the flare-up of the crisis in the Middle East made the need for action even stronger. The EU's response to all crises, she stressed, must always be the same and be the right one, whether it is the Putin or Lukashenko regime, whether it is occupation, human rights violations, ethnic cleansing, whether it is Gaza, Ukraine, Cyprus, Nagorno-Karabakh or Serbia. No matter how many years pass, the President of the Parliament stressed, we do not have the right to forget, nor should we stop fighting. Demetriou stressed both the need and the importance of collectivity to address the common challenges facing the Union and underlined that real strategic autonomy in the fields of defence and security, as well as energy, requires a reassessment of the Union's partnerships, requires cooperation with reliable partners and with democratic states operating on the basis of principles and values and supported the continuation of the Union's cooperation with NATO.
It is imperative, Demetriou stressed, to reduce tensions, invest in peace and respond immediately to all crises in the same way, restoring citizens' confidence in our leadership on major international and European issues. Demetriou also criticised the absence of a single voice and common line from the EU on key issues such as migration. This is exactly what the extremists are exploiting, the President of the Parliament stressed, and wondered how European political leaders will be able to convince citizens of their ability to protect them from populism, propaganda and fake news, when they themselves cannot protect themselves and their country. We must necessarily, he stressed, protect the human rights of our citizens and democracy. It is for this reason, she said, that we need an appropriate legislative framework for the use of social media. Elvira Kovács, the Speaker of the Lower House of the Polish Parliament Mr. Szymon Hołownia and the President of the Czech Senate Mr. Miloš Vystrčil.
During the meeting with the Vice President of the National Assembly of Serbia Ms. Elvira Kovács, the Speaker reaffirmed Cyprus' support for the respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, in full respect of international law. Demetriou and Kovács exchanged views on the issue of the positive opinion of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the accession of Kosovo to the Council of Europe and noted that this development sets a dangerous precedent for other secessionist entities operating in violation of international law and outside the framework of the United Nations, seeking international recognition. Demetriou and Kovács also agreed to further strengthen cooperation and dialogue at the bilateral level.
During separate meetings with the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Mr. Miloš Vystrčil and the President of the Lower House of the Polish Parliament Mr. Szymon Hołownia, the President of the Lower House of Parliament was briefed on the increased flows of Syrians from Lebanon to Cyprus, as well as on her initiative to hold a joint meeting of the Presidents/Vice-Presidents of the Parliaments of the Southern Member States (Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Malta), with the participation of the European Parliament, with the aim of exchanging views on the possibility of taking joint action on this issue, with the main aim of lobbying for the lifting of the legal status of automatic protection for Syrian migrants and the declassification of areas in Syria from dangerous to safe areas. During the meeting with the Speaker of the Lower House of the Polish Parliament, Mr. Szymon Hołownia, the issue of cooperation between the two Parliaments in the framework of the Trio Presidency of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus was also discussed.
In addition, during the meeting with the Speaker of the Lower House of the Polish Parliament, Mr. Szymon Hołownia, the issue of cooperation between the two Parliaments was also discussed.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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