Presidency for a Better Europe APRIL 2012 Cyprus will take the helm of the EU Presidency of the Council Monthly Bulletin Issue 25 for the first time in its history. Covering the period 1-31 March ‘Solidarity’ and ‘effectiveness’ IN BRIEF will mark the C y p r u s ENERGY P r e s i d e n c y. A m e m o r a n d u m o f A n d r e a s Cooperation was signed for the Mavroyiannis, EuroAsia Interconnector, an D e p u t y underwater electric cable Minister for on March 23rd. It will link Israel, Cyprus and Greece with E u r o p e a n the European electricity A f f a i r s t o l d network. The project aims to those gathered produce 2000 megawatts, of at a seminar for which the Electricity Authority Deputy Minister Andreas Mavroyiannis at the press conference to announce the 100 of Cyprus (EAC) will produce p u b l i c days until the EU presidency. Source: Cyprus News Agency 1,000-1,200. The discovery of administration hydrocarbons will contribute to executives on March 14th in Nicosia. The major issues facing the this figure. The estimated completion date is 2016. Cyprus Presidency are the financial crisis and economic recovery. Commenting on the Multiannual Financial Framework, he said ‘the ENLARGEMENT ultimate goal is to reach a political agreement by the end of 2012”. Cypriot Minister of Foreign Cyprus, he said, would give emphasis on the efforts for a Better Affairs Erato Kozakou- Marcoullis reiterated Cyprus' Europe: “An EU committed to fundamental values, that will promote support to Montenegro's sustainable solutions.” Taking over the Presidency for the first time in its EU accession on March 14th, history, Cyprus will prove to its partners that it is a reliable, fair and adding that accession serious member state, he said. It is also an opportunity at national level, negotiations most probably will as the challenge will give a chance for modernisation of its civil service. start during the Cypriot EU Presidency. The Montenegrin Foreign Minister said that he Marking the occasion of the 100 days countdown at a press sees Cyprus as a ''role model'' in conference on March 20th, Mavroyiannis said that Cyprus will work terms of the challenges assumed hard to create a ‘better Europe’ for its citizens. by small states. The Deputy Minister noted that the presidency is a huge challenge for Cyprus, “being a small state with a small-sized public INVESTMENT service.” Recognising the turbulent economic times, Mavroyiannis said Hermes Airports and a Chinese that the challenge is enormous but that Cyprus was ready. The full firm signed a multimillion programme will be released in June. euro deal on March 23rd. At another meeting on the same day, Mavroyiannis reiterated his Under the terms of the deal support of NGOs. Empowering civil society was stressed as an Far Eastern Phoenix will invest millions in renovating the old important part of the presidency’s priorities. With this in mind, he Larnaca airport building into a encouraged the 60 NGOs from both communities to write to the commercial showroom, bonded ministries and the Cyprus EU presidency secretariat. warehouses for Chinese goods and a small conference centre. In order to fulfill this pledge civil servants from all ministeries President of Hermes Airports were present at the event. The Minister also reminded NGOs that they Iacovos Iacovou said it will ‘act may organise events under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency, “there as a bridge uniting China with is a call to submit proposals to the secretariat” he noted, as the deadline Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He also said that Cypriots for submissions has been extended to the end of April. All these events will be given priority when would be included in an official calendar, giving more visibility to the securing jobs on the project. organisations. “Our vision”, he noted, “is to promote Cyprus as a ‘filoxenos topos’, a hospitable place”. CABINET RESCHUFFLE After the decision of Finance Minister Kikis Kazamias to step down, due to health concerns, President Christofias proceeded with a small cabinet reschuffle. Replacing the Finance Minister is Vassos Shiarly, former General Manager of Bank of Cyprus. Neoklis Sylikiotis is the new Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, who replaced Praxoula Antoniadou. Sylikiotis’ place at the Ministry of Interior was taken up Eleni Mavrou, Minister of the Interior (left) and Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly by former Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou. (right). Source: PIO/Cyprus News Agency. Commissioners on Presidency Preparations European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian EU ENERGY HUB Ciolos said that Cyprus is ready to assume its responsibilities at the head Providing uninterrupted of the EU this July. It comes at an important time for the EU as talks energy to the EU, that’s what Commerce Minister Neoklis continue on the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP). Sylikiotis called for in a speech at the Investment Energy On March 1st during a joint press conference with Minister of Summit in Athens, March 28th. This follows the discovery of a Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Sophoclis Aletraris, the large reserve of natural gas in Commissioner expressed his wish for an agreement on CAP reform. He the Exclusive Economic Zone of noted that Cyprus is a small country and added that small countries Cyprus in December 2011. usually play their mediation role better than bigger countries. Clinching bilateral deals are ‘high on the agenda’ for the Minister. He noted that this C l i m a t e could remap Europe’s energy Commissioner Connie map with Cyprus as a new hub. H e d e g a a r d a l s o e x p r e s s e d h e r INTERPRETATION AGREEMENT On March 20th in Nicosia, the c o n f i d e n c e o v e r Secretariat of the Cyprus EU Cyprus’ ability to p r e s i d e n c y s i g n e d a deal with climate M e m o r a n d u m o f i s s u e s . I n cooperation w i t h t h e s t a t e m e n t s a t a European Commission’s DG for Interpretation. It concerns the press conference in translation of EU presidency Nicosia on March meetings to be held in Cyprus 16th, she said “it in the second term of 2012. It was signed by Head of the s e e m s t h a t Cyprus EU presidency awareness is rising Secretariat Emmanuela Minister Aletraris (left) and European Commissioner Connie Hedegaard in Cyprus because Lambrianides and Director (right). Source: Cyprus News Agency o f t h e w a t e r General of DG Interpretation Marco Benedetti. situation and drought situation and the weird weather”. TRADE Aletraris noted that the two sides discussed a number of issues Total exports were up by concerning the period Cyprus will be chairing the EU, like the 23.7% in 2011 and stood at 1.4 informal Environment Council, next July, and several legislative billion euro. Most of these initiatives Hedegaard intended to put forward to the Council. exports concern industrial p r o d u c t s , m a i n l y Concerning international talks on climate change, Hedegaard pharmaceuticals. Notably noted that the Commission and the Cyprus Presidency would be export of services is on the working closely together during the Presidency semester. increase in the area of tourism. Foreign Visits: Lebanon, Italy and France SEARCH AND RESCUE In Beirut Foreign Minister Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis met with her Cyprus and France carried out Lebanese counterpart Adnan Mansour on March 15th. She said Cyprus an aeronautical search and would do ‘everything possible’ to promote EU-Lebanon ties when rescue exercise in the sea south of Cyprus on March 5th. Cyprus takes over the EU presidency in July. On issues for cooperation, Defence Minister Demetris she recalled that one of the areas that has potential is energy following Eliades noted that it was the the discovery of natural gas and possibly oil in the Eastern first time an exercise of such an Mediterranean. extent took place. It involved a maritime accident response and ship piracy. Attending the On another visit on March 13th, the minister was in Rome to discuss exercise were the French the pressing Mediterranean issues for the presidency such as Ambassador and military attaché of the Embassy, officers immigration, the economic crisis and the Southern Neighbourhood. At a of the Search and Rescue of the working lunch with her Italian counterpart Giulio Terzi, they reaffirmed Republic of Cyprus and the friendly relations between the two countries and discussed how they police. could strengthen bilateral cooperation. March 20th saw the Minister travel to Paris, to meet French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé who pledged his full support to Cyprus when it takes over the presidency of the EU. Alain Juppé reiterated the firm position of France for a Cyprus solution on the basis of international and European law and the UN resolutions. During their meeting Marcoullis Source: Cyprus News Agency and Juppé also discussed issues such as EU enlargement, immigration, Eurozone crisis and the Arab spring. BALKAN CHAMBERS Nicosia hosted the General Assembly of the Association MEPs Send a Clear Message to Turkey of Balkan Chambers on On March 29th the March 16th.