On Tuesday, 5 July 2022, the General Secretariat for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Office of the State Aid Control Commissioner (OGECA), organized a presentation on "State Aid" at the Press and Information Office auditorium.
The presentation was attended by 25 officials from the European Affairs Teams of the Competent Authorities who contributed with their questions and contributions to the constructive discussion that followed the presentation.
The aim of the presentation was to inform the participants about the role and responsibilities of the GEEKE, the explanation of basic concepts of State Aid as well as its Legal Framework, with the ultimate goal of effective cooperation between the GEEKE and the CCTs in the Ministries/ Deputy Ministries/ Services.
The presentation was welcomed by the Secretary General of the General Secretariat for European Affairs, Ambassador Louis Telemachou, who referred to the culture of extroversion that the EEAS Office has developed with the Competent Authorities, which contributes effectively to finding solutions for the benefit of the Cypriot economy. He also stressed that the collective effort of all those involved in the public sector consolidates the coordination mechanism established by the Secretariat and makes it the central pillar in the effort to more effectively promote Cyprus' interests in the EU. In conclusion, he welcomed the actions of the Registrar and all the officials of the ESC Office that seal the credibility of the Republic of Cyprus as an EU Member State in the proper observance of State aid rules.
In her welcome address, the State Aid Control Supervisor Ms Stella Michaelidou presented the work of the Office and stressed that the State aid rules provide Member States with several policy options, and it is up to each Member State to harmonise with the very logic of granting State aid imposed by the internal market and Union law and to make use of the possibilities offered. It is expected of the Competent Authorities to plan accordingly and to grant State aid for the development of the economy, the progress of citizens and enterprises, the protection of public finances and, by extension, the service of the public interest.
In conclusion, the Commissioner pointed out that the JHA and the Secretariat for European Affairs have common axes in terms of objectives and themes, with the main common objective of consolidating the credibility of Cyprus as a member state of the EU.The individual presentations were conducted by Ms Athina Kyriakidis and Ms Elena Ioannidou and organised by Ms Maria Statioti, Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(MB/SX)
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