During her official visit in Cyprus, Roberta METSOLA, EP President gives a joint press conference with Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

EU - Cyprus (T)

Cyprus

president's agenda

Joint press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, It is therefore with great pleasure and honour that we are today hosting in the House of Representatives the President of the European Parliamentm Mrs Roberta Metsola. She is a young, dynamic woman from the European South, from the smallest state of the European Union, and that itself gives a strong message of optimism and encouragement to all women and young people who want to play an active role in political events.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Soon, the President of the European Parliament will be speaking at the special plenary session of this House, and she is my constant belief that further strengthening cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments is a very important factor in strengthening citizens' confidence in the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, We discussed several issues during our meeting including, of course, the Cyprus problem of increasing tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, the war in Ukraine, the efforts to deal with all the consequences, the recovery after the pandemic and all the challenges we have to manage. We stressed that the principles on which the European Union is founded must also apply to the case of Cyprus and that common adherence to international law without exceptions should prevail over the interests that undermine it.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, As far as the Russian invasion of Ukraine is concerned, we pointed out the tragic experience of the war and the painful consequences of the ongoing occupation that we are still experiencing here in Cyprus, and underlined that for us there was an additional reason from the beginning to stand properly supporting Ukraine and unequivocally condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, There is also a unanimous resolution from the House of Representatives. Of course, she agreed and I am sure that she will say so after her statements, that the Cyprus problem remains an open wound for Europe and she, of her own will, as she didsay in her first speech, by taking up her duties, will assist in any way she can to play a decisive role and a more active role.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Of course, I also informed the President of the European Parliament of the joint report which we have made public with my counterpart in the German Parliament under her auspices, that at regular intervals as women of parliaments we can thus have more intensive cooperation. And I have already been informed by Mrs. Hollande that we will meet in Brussels next month to continue another joint initiative by the President of the Polish Parliament to deal with the consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Of course then I will have the opportunity to accompany her to the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Famagusta, we will have the opportunity to go to the barricade to chat but also to see with her own eyes what exactly means continued occupation, what does barricades mean what does green line mean, what does it mean to test an entire population for more than 48 years.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Annita DEMETRIOU, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, It is very important that the visit by the President of the European Parliament will end with a discussion with young people and she always makes sure that she places special emphasis on the participation of young people in political events. This was also the result of the Conference on the Future of Europe, as it was also evident from the initiatives of our own parliament. To conclude with this that the official visit of the President of the European Parliament to the Cyprus Parliament and the Republic of Cyprus will only be the beginning of a closer cooperation that we must and can have by building the Europe of tomorrow and the future that we want to ensure for us and our children.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, As you mentioned, Annita, we had the opportunity to touch on a number of issues in our bilateral meeting, including, of course, the current stalemate with regards to a reunification as well as some recent and very unhelpful statements. And the first thing I would say is let me reiterate the European Parliament's solidarity with Cyprus and our call for negotiations to resume promptly.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We also discussed Ukraine energy prices and the cost of living to which I have already made remarks some moments ago with President Anastasiades. So let me here make two different points that we also had the chance to address. First of all, on migration, I am genuinely concerned with the recent stark rise in the number of asylum seekers, refugees and irregular migrants who reached Cyprus and in particular when compared to the size of the population.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I understand all too well the impact of such an influx on your society. Migration remains one of our greatest challenges, and for far too long it has been apparent that Member States cannot carry this challenge or address this challenge alone. I know there will be no quick fix to migration. However, I know that solutions can be found if there is political will and solutions need to be pan-European. So therefore, I am encouraged that I, just before arriving here, signed on behalf of the European Parliament, a roadmap with five EU Presidencies, with the aim to conclude the negotiations on the migration files before the end of our legislative period in 2024.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Considering the challenges, this is ambitious, but it is possible. And more importantly, that's what our citizens want from us. So we need to believe it is. And therefore, we need to work towards that end. My second point has also been touched on by the Speaker, is wider but touches on interparliamentary work. Ever since my election, I have embarked on further deepening, after a difficult period of the pandemic, when we could only meet virtually and discuss real issues faced by our citizens at a distance that we can really come on the ground and really show cooperation between parliaments and parliamentary diplomacy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, This is a sign of the times. We have seen its value during the pandemic. We have seen its value since the start of the war of the Russian aggression in Ukraine. This is also showing how European Parliament have mobilised in support of Ukraine, where our people have told their elected representatives that they needed to show more solidarity, that they needed to open their homes, that they needed to open their hearts to people who are fighting for the values that we share. This is what I want to strengthen further, Madam Speaker, and I look forward to now addressing your house in a few minutes. Thank you very much.

Q&A, On the EU to Turkey's actions against Cyprus. Follow up question on the presence of the EU at the negotiations should there restart. response

Q&A, On the increasing immigration flows.