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- Ελληνικά
Monday, 27 November 2023
The 70th Conference of the European Affairs Committees of the Parliaments of the Member States of the European Union (COSAC) continued today in Madrid. The House of Representatives is represented by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Mr. Harris Georgiadis, and the Member of the Committee, Mr. Chrisis Pantelidis.
In his intervention during the debate on the European Union (EU) Pact on Immigration and Asylum, Mr. Pantelidis pointed out that the international situation and developments in Gaza, following the Hamas terrorist attacks, leave little room for flexibility with regard to migration flows. He added that Cyprus is facing a disproportionate number of migratory flows, not only due to its geographical location, but mainly due to the channelling by Turkey of thousands of asylum seekers from the occupied territories through the ceasefire line to the government-controlled areas. As a result of this, Pantelides continued, the percentage of applicants for international protection status in Cyprus exceeds 5% of the total population, which is by far the highest percentage among EU member states. In this regard, he called for EU support for Cyprus and underlined the need for the establishment of a common European coordination mechanism on migration and the conclusion of relevant EU agreements with third countries. In conclusion, the Cypriot MEP called on the EU institutions to reach an immediate agreement on a European Pact on Immigration and Asylum which will defend the interests of all Member States and, above all, support the first host states, on the basis of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility and burdens.
During the discussion on the energy crisis and the green transition, Mr Pantelidis referred to the potential for each EU Member State to contribute to the green transition, citing the example of Cyprus, which has more than 300 days of sunshine per year. He also underlined the great importance of transnational interconnections in the energy supply of EU countries, making special reference to the Euro-Asia Interconnector electricity interconnection project, which is partly co-financed by the EU as a European project of common interest and will connect the electricity grids of Cyprus, Greece and Israel. Pantelides stressed the importance of this project since, as he said, it will end the energy isolation of Cyprus, extend the European grid to the Middle East and enhance the penetration of renewable energy sources.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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