CYPRUS EU PRESIDENCY HEAD – PARLIAMENT

Deputy Minister to the President for European Affairs, Ambassador Andreas Mayroyiannis, has told a House committee that he expects all political parties and civil society to support Cyprus in the exercise of its duties during the EU presidency in the second half of 2012.
Mavroyiannis, who has briefed the House Foreign and European Affairs Committee on preparations for the Presidency, pointed out that this is an opportunity for Cyprus to promote its potential and become more integrated in the core of European affairs.

“Cyprus is the only ΕU member, among the new 12, which is a net contributor,” he said.

Asked about current negotiations on the long-term EU fiscal framework, Mavroyiannis said this issue must be settled in a satisfactory way for Cyprus to allow the country to act as a reliable interim agent for an agreement on the matter.

The cost of the Cypriot presidency is estimated at 61.6 million euro, the Committee heard. Infrastructure projects for the Presidency are progressing well and it is expected that 200 meetings and 3.500 working groups will take place in Cyprus from July to December 2012.