MP Nikos Tornaritis called for the full implementation of EU values and principles, as well as the acquis communautaire in the case of Cyprus, pointing out that for forty two years, human rights of all Cypriots are violated by Turkey.
Tornaritis was speaking at the Informal Meeting of European Union Presidents of Parliaments of EU Member States in Bratislava, where he represented the President of the House of Representatives Demetris Syllouris.
According to an official announcement, at the meeting the participants exchanged views on the current challenges that threaten the unity of the EU and on the efforts to reduce the gap between the Union and European citizens, as well as for future EU targets in relation to the role of national parliaments, the EU`s internal cohesion and its active participation in global affairs.
In his speech, Tornaritis referred to the additional challenges for the EU, following the outcome of the recent decision of UK to leave the Union, underlining at the same time the weakness of the Union to respond to the concerns of European citizens and to inspire its citizens.
Tornaritis also referred to the need to make Europe and its neighborhood a safer place, an area of freedom and justice, where there will be full respect for human rights.
The MP suggested that the EU must urgently create a coherent and efficient migration, asylum and border management policy. As he said, any individual approaches by Member States on immigration will not solve the issue, but will bring more pressure on the host countries, undermining in this way the cohesion of the EU.
On the EU-Turkey agreement on managing migration crisis, Tornaritis stressed the need for compatibility of the agreement with human rights and international law and fulfilling by Turkey of all the requirements towards all EU Member States.
Moreover, Tornaritis called for the full implementation of EU values and principles and the acquis communautaire in the case of Cyprus, recalling that in Cyprus for forty two years, human rights of all Cypriots are violated by Turkey, which aims to join the EU.
The EU Member States, he stressed, must show their solidarity in practice, in order the international and European law to be implemented. As he said “this is the way to guarantee security in Europe, as opposed to the policies of double standards that weaken the substance of EU principles and values.
Tornaritis had also the opportunity for a brief exchange of views with the European Parliament President Martin Schulz, the President of the National Council of Slovakia Andrej D
