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- Ελληνικά
On Monday, in the context of the presentation of the Government's priorities for 2024, actions aimed at strengthening the participation of young people in electoral processes will be announced, President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides said tonight.
Addressing an event organised by the European Parliament Office in Cyprus for the presentation of the 2023 Progress Report and its actions for the coming months ahead of the European elections, the President of the Republic, after congratulating the Head of the European Parliament Office in Cyprus Mr. Andreas Kettis and his colleagues "for their excellent work, the benefits of which are also felt by us as a State, as the executive power", President Christodoulides said that "accession to the European Union (EU) was the most important success since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus".
He added that "it took some years for us to realize the importance of the Republic of Cyprus, a small occupied state, to be part of the big European family".
President Christodoulides also noted that "we have already started preparations for the second Cyprus Presidency of the EU in 2026", noting that this will be an opportunity "to understand even more the importance of the EU for Cyprus, how the EU affects our daily life, how the EU can help us substantially to achieve our number one priority, the end of the occupation and the reunification of the homeland".
The President also welcomed the massive participation of Turkish Cypriots in tonight's event.
He also said that "immediately after my election, the first meeting I had was with the President of the European Parliament. This meeting was followed by her very honourable invitation to address the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg and we are currently in contact with the President of the European Parliament to visit Cyprus as part of the effort - she attaches particular importance to youth participation - to organise an event in Cyprus to highlight the importance of participation in the EU.
The Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the EU, we have a role and a voice in the EU and at the level of the European Council, but also at the level of the European Parliament. So, they will have increased obligations in the first half of 2026.
I want to reveal to you that on Monday, in the context of the presentation of the Government's priorities for 2024, an institution that emerged through the presentation of the priorities of the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Parliament each year, I intend to announce two executive actions which, with the cooperation of the legislative authority, I hope to implement soon, in 2024, and if possible before the election of the new Members of the European Parliament, and which aim to strengthen the participation of young people in the electoral process. And it is a decision we have taken taking into account the need for our young people to participate more in the public life of our country.
I am sure that our cooperation in 2024 and especially in view of the elections for the European Parliament, which is the most important institution of the EU, the only institution for which there is direct nomination by European citizens, which gradually leads to the strengthening of the powers of the Parliament, there will be a massive participation from our country. And I want to assure you that in your effort we will also assist you with the House of Representatives, so that we have one of the highest participation rates in the upcoming European elections".
(PM/GM/MS/MS)
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