[PIO] Statements by the President of the Republic on his arrival at the European Council meeting

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides on his arrival at the European Council Summit.

"The consultations on the Heads of Institutions continue. I want to reiterate that it is our wish and expectation, and we are working in this direction to the best of our abilities, that there will be a conclusion today," the President of the Republic said.

President Christodoulides added: "We have to decide today. I will also have a meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy, in particular, exclusively on this issue. I hope, I repeat, that we will conclude today, so that we can move on to discuss important issues on the agenda. It is the EU's strategic agenda. For us, the strategic autonomy of the EU is of paramount importance, and when we say strategic autonomy we are not only talking about defence and security issues, the EU's energy security and competitiveness issues. It is important that migration will be discussed, and I hope, and I leave it for last, that there will be a conclusion to the conclusions on the Middle East. Given the developments and the worrying information that we are all hearing, we can see what the situation is. The Republic of Cyprus, as an EU Member State, has also received some, if you like in quotation marks, or without quotation marks, warnings. We see some other states trying to escalate the situation, so as the EU today we have to come out loud and clear with clear messages. The Republic of Cyprus, as the EU member state neighbouring the region, which, unlike other countries, maintains excellent relations with all neighbouring states, will play its role, which is always a role with a positive approach."

In response to a question whether there is a specific request from the Prime Minister of Italy, Mrs. Giorgia Meloni, President Christodoulides said: "We spoke last night with the Prime Minister of Italy. We spoke with the Italian Prime Minister last night at the Italian Parliament last night. We will meet as soon as she arrives in Brussels. I see some of her concerns, I want to be absolutely frank. I made an intervention last week, which was the informal European Council. But we have to find a solution where we all unite to move towards the important decisions concerning the heads of the institutions. It is in this context that my meeting with the Italian Prime Minister will take place."

In response to another question on the consultations on the heads of institutions, President Christodoulides said: "We are waiting for the decisions. After all, according to the EU Treaties, the President of the European Council, every two and a half years there is a discussion and, if you like, so far the examples show that he is reappointed. So, it is the EU treaties that determine the framework of our discussions."

Asked whether the European People's Party raised other issues in the Council, the President of the Republic replied. Firstly, the heads of the institutions, and secondly, the strategic agenda. We must, I want to reiterate, the challenges are many, in July we must get the issue of the President of the Commission at the European Parliament session over and done with, so that we can get down to work. There are too many issues that we have to deal with immediately. There are many developments that we need to take into account. We have elections in the United States, we have elections in Britain, we have these developments in the Middle East, which, you understand, are worrying us. As the EU, we have to be ready to deal with all of this and not have these endless discussions about who is in charge. So we need to have a process in which no one should feel excluded, no one should feel excluded. And [WE MUST] repeat, within the framework of our possibilities and the good relations that we have with the Prime Minister of Italy, who I see repeating some of the points that she has mentioned, to find a solution that is collective."

Asked to comment on his meeting with the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. María Ángela Holguín, the President said: "It was a very productive discussion. It was not a general discussion, it was very specific about how to create the conditions to resume the talks. So, we talked specifically about aspects of the Cyprus problem. It is for this reason that I also felt the need to convene the National Council next week, so that the leaders of the parliamentary parties can be invited again, so that together we can look at the next steps."

For footage of the statements click here.

(BAT/AF/NZ/MS)
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