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- Ελληνικά
The presentation of the Department of State's 2024 budget before the House of Representatives' Finance and Budget Committee has just been completed.
First of all, I would like to thank the members of the Committee for the fruitful dialogue and discussion we had.
I will briefly refer to some figures and data.
As I have already informed the Committee, the Budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 2024 amounts to 111.9 million euros. There is a 9% increase compared to last year, and an upward trend for the coming years, which will clearly be positively influenced by the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Of this total amount, €95.6 million, i.e. 85.4% relates to binding expenditure, while 14.6% of the total budget relates to non-binding expenditure, of which 8.7% relates to operating expenditure.
I now turn briefly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' operational plan.
The Republic of Cyprus has significant opportunities to exploit, as well as major challenges to face. This is approached and cultivated by enlarging our footprint, and requires constant recalibration and adaptation.
Our foreign policy revolves around our country's comparative advantages, and includes, among others, the following objective goals.
First and foremost, the protection, at all costs, of the Republic of Cyprus. In addition, the creation, at all costs, of conditions that will be beneficial for the reunification of our country. To make use of our EU membership, at all levels and on all issues, as well as to steadily deepen the already excellent relations with states in our region. This includes the architectural expansion of regional multilateralism through the trilateral and enhanced trilateral formats, as well as maintaining and strengthening our credibility by adhering to principled positions of international legitimacy, always with a view to preserving, protecting and promoting the image of our country. Finally, the safeguarding of the good relationship with Greece and the constant strengthening of the closeness of ties.
Therefore, in order to achieve the above objectives, the modernization and reorganization of the Ministry is necessary. Important steps have already been taken and there is a clear plan to be implemented, which was partly presented to the Commission. In addition, the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU for 2026 is both a challenge and an opportunity, and as such it is treated as such.
Thank you.
(MΘ/ΚΚ)
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