Adding the Final Touches to the Presidency IN BRIEF Cyprus unveils the visual identity of its first ever Presidency. The DANISH SUPPORT July handover of the Presidency of the EU is only one month On May 15th Cyprus and away. D e n m a r k s i g n e d a Filoxenia Presidency hub opens M e m o r a n d u m o f Understanding providing for I n a n o f fi c i a l cooperation during the Cyprus ceremony on May EU Presidency. It provides that part of the chairmanship of 1 5 t h , P r e s i d e n t working groups on international Christofias environmental issues and inaugurated the forestry will be assigned to D e n m a r k . P o l i t i c a l newly renovated responsibility lies with the F i l o x e n i a Republic of Cyprus, while conference centre. It Cypriot officers will attend the will be a hub of meetings and monitor negotiations. This practice, it is activities during the noted, has been followed in the Cyprus Presidency past by other member states. of the EU. At a cost The memorandum was signed of 20.5 million The newly renovated Filoxenia conference centre in Nicosia. in Brussels, by Cyprus’ Agriculture Minister Sofoklis euros for renovations, “Filoxenia” (meaning hospitality) has a main Aletraris and Danish Minister conference room, ministers luncheon hall, and restaurants. The building is for the Environment Ida Auken. equipped with interpreting, teleconference and audiovisual information facilities. The premises also boast ‘CYPRESS’ press centre, which can BRITAIN accommodate up to 500 people. A special provision has also been made in Britain is ready to offer technical and any other the premises for the official host broadcaster (CyBC). assistance to the government of Cyprus, ahead of its EU Presidency. British Employment Sails hoisted high, a ship sails to European Affairs Andreas Minister Chris Grayling said the heart of Europe, or is it a bird Mavroyiannis noted that the logo May 15th, after a meeting with carrying the message of peace? It is expresses “in a simple but eloquent Cypriot Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Soteroulla both. The new logo of the Cyprus manner the character of Cyprus as Charalambous. "We regard our Presidency was unveiled at the country presiding the Council. friendship with Cyprus as of Filoxenia conference centre on Explaining the colours, he said its very great importance”, he May 9th. It is the product of an three sails are “copper and green, noted. He concurred that the decision of the Cyprus open call for designs which was colours inspired by our flag and the presidency to focus on the issue won by Partners group, who will also sun-bathed and dotted with olive of children, their welfare, their work on the visual identity of the trees copper producing land of support and upbringing is presidency. Deputy Minister for Cyprus” and the “blue of the sea absolutely correct. and the clear friendly sky, which CROATIA provides cover for the harmonious On May 3rd the House of co-existence of peoples, and also Representatives unanimously b e t w e e n m a n a n d t h e approved Croatia’s Treaty environment.” He stressed that this of Accession to the EU. The vote was held in the presence of new journey “is a turning point in Tomislav Vidosevic, Croatia’s our modern history. This journey Ambassador to Cyprus. Croatia will prove that Cyprus is an equal, will become the 28th EU reliable and responsible member of member on July 1st 2013, with the ratification of the Treaty of the EU, ready to respond to the Accession by all 27 EU member expectations of all the citizens of states and a referendum that Europe,” he noted. will be held in Croatia. MONTHLY BULLETIN ISSUE 27 COVERING THE PERIOD 1-30 MAY JUNE 2012 AUSTRIAN TIES In Vienna, President of the Republic Demetris Christofias met with the President of Austria Heinz Fischer, during his official visit to the country on May 21st. The talks covered the current situation in Cyprus, the economic crisis and the Eurozone, the Common Foreign and Security Policy, EU integration, Turkey's EU course and the peace process in the Middle East. During the meeting, a Memorandum on the avoidance of double taxation was signed between the two countries. President Christofias with Austrian President Fischer on the official visit. Austrian Support for Cyprus PRESIDENCY The first meeting of the President Fischer expressed the conviction that President of the Republic of Cyprus presidency took Cyprus Demetris Christofias will never abandon his goal to find a settlement place on May 25th in Nicosia. of the Cyprus problem, even if this goal seems to be unattainable for the time The Department of Industrial being. Christofias thanked Austria for its support: ''We are very grateful for the Relations of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance long standing contribution and participation of your country in the United hosted a meeting of the Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus''. He went on to denounce Turkey’s Directors General of Industrial recent threats to the EU presidency: ''We are particularly concerned by the Relations of EU member states and representatives of the obvious delaying tactics, which the Turkish side is using. This obstruction, European Commission. Top of combined with threats by Turkey against the Cyprus Presidency of the EU the agenda was the presentation Council and also against the sovereignty of the Republic in our Exclusive of the new ''employment Economic Zone, are an anachronism that cannot be accepted”. package'' which proposes new measures and opportunities for During the two-day official visit on May 21st, talk turned to energy as well. employment. They also discussed the Commission's President Fischer stated that ''Cyprus has good prospects after the discovery of proposals relating to the natural gas resources. Of course it would be a positive development if we creation of a European could have energy coming from an EU country. This would be good for both Platform to combat undeclared the EU and Cyprus, but also for Turkey”. At a working lunch between work. President Christofias and the Chancellor of Austria Werner Faymann, in CULTURE Vienna, they discussed possibilities to further promote economic and trade The European Commission has cooperation between the two countries. launched a two million euro project to preserve cultural Swiss backing on Cyprus issue heritage in Cyprus. The project is part of the European President of Switzerland Eveline Widmer – Commission's aid programme Schlumpf at the Presidential Palace after holding for the Turkish Cypriot talks with President Christofias on May 18th, community. Commenting on the commencement of the expressed her regret that the UN led talks which aim project on May 8th, EU to resolve the Cyprus issue are not going as President Commissioner Stefan Fule Christofias would wish, expressing Switzerland’s expressed the belief that ''this readiness to support the process if requested. “As new project will help preserve the island's cultural heritage Switzerland we would wish for a solution to be found and will foster trust and in the next months, in the next year”, she noted, reconciliation in Cyprus. adding that “I think it would be very important for Cooperation and joint efforts this wonderful region.” During his talks with the by all communities will be necessary to make this pilot Mrs Widmer-Schlumpf, President Christofias project a success.'' The EU Swiss President Widmer-Schlumpf outlined the Cyprus EU Council priorities, such as contribution will allow economic governance, the Common Asylum System emergency support works to be and President Christofias take a carried out on six sites, walk outside the Presidential Palace and monitoring of the effective implementation of including the Othello Tower in during her official visit to Cyprus. the “Europe 2020” Strategy. Famagusta. MONTHLY BULLETIN ISSUE 27 - 2 - JUNE 2012 The EU won’t accept blackmail from any country THE VIEW FROM BERLIN Discussing the main issues The Czech Foreign Minister, Karel which the Cyprus Presidency Schwarzenberg said that no non-EU hopes to conclude before the countries should proclaim conditions on any end of their presidency in member state. Speaking at a meeting during December 2012, Interior Minister Eleni Mavrou was a working visit to Cyprus with Foreign in Berlin. The main issues Minister Marcoullis on May 8th, the Czech include the Common European Minister referred to threats issued by Turkey Asylum System, immigrant to boycott Cyprus' upcoming presidency of integration as well as improving EU civil protection. To this end the EU. Mr Schwarzenberg said that Turkey she met with her German "instead of using this in its own ambition to counterpart Hans-Peter become a member of the EU, evidently, it Czech Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg with Friedrich as well as members of acts in the wrong way to the Cyprus Minister Marcoullis Source: CNA NGOs during her visit on May 8th. She found out the German presidency.” He added, “I can assure one thing that the EU and its member positions on different issues and states won’t let blackmail by anybody in the world. We have a member state the margin of manoeuvre and the member state is entitled to the presidency”. Schwarzenberg also possible for achieving progress wished Cyprus well for the extraction of natural gas from its territorial especially in justice and home affairs. The German Minister waters, another issue which Turkey continues to dispute. In the spirit of reiterated his commitment to solidarity, Marcoullis reflected upon the shared past of the Czech Republic helping Mavrou and the Cyprus and Cyprus: “We have embarked on this very important membership in the Presidency to achieve compromise in the areas of EU in the family of the EU”.