Annual Report 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
________________________________________________________________________ ANNUAL REPORT _________________ 2017 ________________ European Parliament Liaison Office in Cyprus ________________________________________________________________________ 1 ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 2 ________________________________________________________________________ Contents Abbreviations of EP’s Political Groups .............................................................. 4 Foreword by the Head of the Office .................................................................... 5 Activity Summary for 2017 .................................................................................. 7 Flagship Events ................................................................................................. 12 Conference of Freedom of Press .................................................................... 12 Conference on Circular Economy in the EU .................................................... 14 Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome ................................. 16 Conference on Greening Beaches and Sustainable Tourism ........................... 17 Conference on Energy Union .......................................................................... 19 Celebrating EU Day ......................................................................................... 20 Celebrating EU Day in the Turkish Cypriot Community ................................... 22 ‘‘Quo Vadis Europa?’’ - Part A’ ......................................................................... 24 ‘‘Quo Vadis Europa?’’ - Part B’ ........................................................................ 26 Multi-thematic Events ....................................................................................... 28 Visits from the EP .............................................................................................. 40 MEPs’ Dialogue with Stakeholders .................................................................. 50 Events for the EP Prizes .................................................................................... 55 European Citizen's Prize .................................................................................. 55 LUX Films Screenings ...................................................................................... 57 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought .......................................................... 58 Media Actions .................................................................................................... 59 Social Media ....................................................................................................... 77 Special Focus on Youth .................................................................................... 82 The Role of the EPLO ...................................................................................... 102 The Staff of the Office ...................................................................................... 103 ________________________________________________________________________ 3 ________________________________________________________________________ Abbreviations of EP’s Political Groups EPP European People's Party S&D Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats ECR European Conservatives and Reformists ALDE Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe GUE/ NGL European United Left–Nordic Green Left Greens–EFA The Greens–European Free Alliance EFDD Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy ENF Europe of Nations and Freedom NI Non-attached members ________________________________________________________________________ 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Foreword Dear reader, 2017 was a very active year for the European Parliament Information Office (EPIO)/ European Parliament Liaιson Office (EPLO) in Cyprus. This booklet aims to present an overview of our EPLO’s main activities for 2017 in accordance with the principles of accountability and transparency which govern the European Parliament (EP) as a whole. The EP in its continuous effort to bridge the gap with the European citizens decided in the end of 2017 to upgrade its representation in the member states. To this end, the EPIOs were renamed to European Parliament Liaison Offices representing the EP as a whole in the member state each EPLO operates and with the main function of informing and communicating locally on behalf of the EP in order to ensure citizens understand the impact of the institution on their lives. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to my colleagues in the EPLO for their valuable contribution towards the successful materialisation of our activities in 2017. I would also like to extend my deepest thanks to our stakeholders and especially to the journalists who contributed decisively in implementing and promoting our goals. It is very important for the EPLO to be in close cooperation with Cypriot journalists and the media in general as they inform Cypriot European citizens about the debates and decisions taking place at the EP in both Brussels and Strasbourg. In particular, I would like to thank the President of the House of Representatives, as well as the Permanent Secretary of the House and her collaborators for their remarkable support in implementing important actions, even in the plenum of the national Parliament. Undoubtedly, the House of Representatives presents the most important institutional interlocutor for the EPLO in Cyprus. ________________________________________________________________________ 5 ________________________________________________________________________ Besides, it would be an omission not to extend my warmest thanks to the Minister of Education and Culture and his collaborators who facilitated our mission in presenting the importance of the institutional role of the EP to thousands of pupils in primary and secondary schools across Cyprus. Our main aim has been to explain to students that the EU is above everything a peace project that safeguards fundamental human rights for all. Maintaining close cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Culture is also vital for us in order to implement the pioneering “European Parliament Ambassador School Programme”, which for the second time this year is being implemented in all EU Member States. For the current school year 2017-2018, this highly successful programme involves the participation of twenty Cypriot Lyceums and Technical-Vocational Schools. Undoubtedly, it would not be possible to successfully implement the mission of our Office, without the staunch support from the Cypriot MEPs. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all six Cypriot MEPs for their invaluable confidence towards me and my colleagues at the EPLO in Cyprus. Without their important contribution, we would not be able to achieve our aims. The Cypriot MEPs are the Ambassadors of our Office and are always at the epicentre of our activities. Andreas Kettis Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Cyprus ________________________________________________________________________ 6 ________________________________________________________________________ Calendar of our main activities for 2017 6 February 2017 (Nicosia) Conference on Freedom of Press with MEP and first EP Vice President Maired MCGUINNESS (EPP, Ireland) 20-22 February 2017 (Pafos/ Nicosia) Visit of the EP Committee on Culture and Education, headed by the Chair of the Committee Petra KAMMEREVERT (S&D, Germany) 23 February 2017 (Nicosia) Discussion on Rare Diseases with MEP Takis HADJIGEORGIOU (GUE/NGL, Cyprus) 24 February 2017 (Limassol) Conference on Circular Economy in the EU with MEPs Eleni THEOCHAROUS (ECR, Cyprus) and Takis HADJIGEORGIOU (GUE/NGL, Cyprus) 9 March 2017 (Nicosia) Roundtable discussion on the Economic Empowerment of Women with MEP Costas MAVRIDES (S&D, Cyprus) 24 March 2017 (Nicosia) Public debate on “Europe and the Mediterranean towards a new agenda” with MEP Demetris PAPADAKIS (S&D, Cyprus) 30 March 2017 (Nicosia) Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome 31 March 2017 (Famagusta) Seminar addressed to Turkish Cypriot teachers of ΚΤÖS union entitled “Train the Trainers”, with MEPs Demetris PAPADAKIS (S&D, Cyprus) and Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS (GUE/NGL, Cyprus) ________________________________________________________________________ 7 ________________________________________________________________________ 8 April 2017 (Troodos) A two-day seminar for journalists on Gender Mainstreaming to mark IWD with MEP Takis HADJIGEORGIOU (GUE/NGL, Cyprus) 21 April 2017 (Nicosia) Working lunch of MEP Lefteris CHROSTOFOROU (EPP, Cyprus) with stakeholders on the emerging developments concerning taxation in the EU 28 April 2017 (Ayia Napa) Conference on Greening Beaches and Sustainable Tourism with MEP Eleni THEOCHAROUS (ECR, Cyprus) 5 May 2017 (Larnaca) Conference on Energy Union with MEPs Lefteris CHRISTOFOROU (EPP, Cyprus) and Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS (GUE/NGL, Cyprus) 12 May 2017 (Nicosia) Press briefing of MEP Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS (GUE/NGL, Cyprus) with journalists on working conditions and precarious employment 13 May 2017 (Nicosia) Celebrations for Europe Day with MEPs Lefteris CHROSTOFOROU (EPP, Cyprus), Costas MAVRIDES (S&D, Cyprus), Demetris PAPADAKIS (S&D, Cyprus) and Takis HADJIGEORGIOU (GUE/NGL, Cyprus) 20 May 2017 (Nicosia) Celebrations for Europe