The President of the House of Representatives, Ms Anita Demetriou, held a meeting with the President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Mr Apostolos Tzitzikostas, today, Friday, 3 June 2022, at the House of Representatives. Mr Tzitzikosta was accompanied by a delegation of the CoR, as well as the President and the Secretary of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities.
During the meeting, the general role of local authorities in building a closer relationship between the regions and the European Union (EU) and in improving the lives of citizens, the reform of local government in Cyprus, the impact of the war in Ukraine on the energy and migration sectors, as well as aspects of the Cyprus problem were discussed.
Mr Tzitzikostas referred in particular to the example of the transformation of local government in Greece through the reduction of municipalities, but more generally to the benefits for local government and consequently for citizens in the EU context. He also stressed the need to maintain the coherence of the EU in dealing with the Ukrainian issue and in the EU's response to the Cyprus problem with the same political sensitivity shown in the case of the war in Ukraine.
The President of the Parliament underlined the importance of the initiative undertaken by the Republic of Cyprus for the digitisation of services provided to citizens on the basis of the know-how gained from Greece, while she also referred to the adoption of the legislation for the reform of local government in Cyprus and the benefits that will accrue for citizens within the new framework of the functioning of municipalities and communities. Referring also to the consequences of the war in Ukraine, Ms Demetriou stressed the need for long-term planning on the part of the EU in relation to the handling of the Ukrainian issue, in order to reduce the negative impact on Member States, but also to assume responsibilities on equal terms between Member States. She also underlined the prospects that will be created for Cyprus in case of a solution of the Cyprus problem and the need for the EU to stop the provocativeness shown by Turkey.
Finally, the President of the Parliament assured the President of the CoR that the House of Representatives as well as the Cypriot local government will continue to maintain close communication with the CoR in the direction of improving the quality of life of the citizens.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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