We begin today's session with a reference to the untimely death of Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Zeta Emilianidou as a tribute to the woman politician who in her nine-year career as a minister, in the admittedly crucial and very demanding Ministry of Labour and Welfare through her dedication to duty, hard work and personal sensitivity for the citizen, she not only broke down every stereotype but also became a model politician who, through her timely, pertinent and effective interventions, expanded the welfare state, strengthened the institutional legislative framework and labour rights, contributed to the consolidation of gender equality and the establishment of industrial peace and prevented labour destabilisation in difficult times.
Zeta Aimylianidou studied law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and obtained a Master's degree from the Cyprus Institute of Marketing. As a civil servant, she rose through the ranks of the civil service, reaching the position of Director of Customs, Director of Value Added Tax and Director General of the Ministry of Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism. She also served as Chairman of the Cyprus Energy Foundation and the Special Fund for Renewable Energy and Energy Saving and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Ports Authority. She has also made notable contributions to the drafting of key legislation for the state, most notably the Customs legislation, the Value Added Tax legislation and the Minimum Guaranteed Income law.
As Director General of the Ministry of Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism, she took on the difficult role of successfully completing the 2nd Licensing Round for the Exploration of Hydrocarbons in the Offshore Areas of Cyprus and chaired the Advisory Committee for the evaluation of company applications for the five blocks of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic.
In 2013 she was appointed by the President of the Republic to the post of Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance and was reappointed to the same post for a second term in 2018, which she served tirelessly until her death. She was also a very close and valuable collaborator of the legislature, whose presence in the House and in parliamentary committees, whenever called upon and in whatever capacity, contributed with her experience, acumen and flexibility to overcoming obstacles, to reconciling divergent views, to promoting important reform bills, with only one common denominator, the human being in need of support, in the context of a fairer society.
Zeta Aimylianidou leaves an unfillable gap in public life and a heavy legacy for her successors and for all of us.
I invite you to observe a one-minute silence in her memory.
(One-minute silence)
May her memory live on!
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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