The The Cypriot Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2012 will be “extremely important“, Commissioner for the Internal Market and Service Michel Barnier has said.

Barnier, who is visiting Cyprus in the framework of a tour in European capitals to discuss the future reforms in the single market, told a press conference the Commission has submitted proposals for reforms in the single act which would be mature for approval in the period of the Cypriot presidency, whereas the financial framework 2013-2020 will be discussed during the 18-month period of Cyprus` trio presidency (along with Poland and Denmark).

“For this reason the Cypriot presidency in the second half of 2012 is extremely important as the majority of the texts will be reach legislative maturity in the second half of 2012,“ Barnier said speaking through an interpreter.

Barnier also said that the period of the Cypriot Presidency will be “very important“ concerning the instability observed in countries such as Libya and Egypt because Cyprus is “bastion“ of the EU towards the Middle East and North Africa.

“I believe that Cyprus, when holding the EU presidency in the second half of 2012, will aim at strengthening and accelerating the dialogue with the other side of the Mediterranean, in a bid to contribute to a real strategy of cooperation and partnership agreement with these countries so that a economic growth would be generated in these countries, needed by the young generations,“ he added. in the second half of 2012 will be “extremely important“, Commissioner for the Internal Market and Service Michel Barnier has said.

Barnier, who is visiting Cyprus in the framework of a tour in European capitals to discuss the future reforms in the single market, told a press conference the Commission has submitted proposals for reforms in the single act which would be mature for approval in the period of the Cypriot presidency, whereas the financial framework 2013-2020 will be discussed during the 18-month period of Cyprus` trio presidency (along with Poland and Denmark).

“For this reason the Cypriot presidency in the second half of 2012 is extremely important as the majority of the texts will be reach legislative maturity in the second half of 2012,“ Barnier said speaking through an interpreter.

Barnier also said that the period of the Cypriot Presidency will be “very important“ concerning the instability observed in countries such as Libya and Egypt because Cyprus is “bastion“ of the EU towards the Middle East and North Africa.

“I believe that Cyprus, when holding the EU presidency in the second half of 2012, will aim at strengthening and accelerating the dialogue with the other side of the Mediterranean, in a bid to contribute to a real strategy of cooperation and partnership agreement with these countries so that a economic growth would be generated in these countries, needed by the young generations,“ he added.