No European Security Architecture can be complete as long as Cyprus remains divided, said the President of the House of Representatives, Annita Dimitriou, in her address at the 16th Limassol Economic Forum, on Friday, stating that no country that violates international law or occupies part of an EU member state can be a credible partner in shaping European security. For her part, Deputy Minister to the President, Irene Piki, referred to three “interconnected pillars” on which Cyprus is focusing, namely reform, investment, and institutional integrity, pointing out that “each pillar stands on its own merit but together they form a coherent national strategy that enables Cyprus to turn challenges into opportunities and to build an economy that is more robust, more innovative, and more globally connected than ever before.”
Saying that prosperity and security are two sides of the same coin, the House President said that strong integrated Single Market for Defence will boost Europe’s industrial base, joint procurement, and innovation, adding that the ReArm Europe Plan is a major step toward a true European Defence Union and ‘we must back it with political cooperation and long-term investment.’
At this point, Demetriou stressed that the position of Greece and Cyprus is clear: “No country that violates international law or occupies part of an EU Member State can be a credible partner in shaping Europe’s security.”
At the same time, she continued, Europe must secure its technological and energy sovereignty. “We should strive to establish a competitive ecosystem that drives innovation and strategic industries with a coordinated investment, while expressing his belief that Europe can close the innovation gap and compete or collaborate globally with the U.S. and China”, she added.
She also stressed that common projects of European interest, such as the Great Sea Interconnector between Cyprus and Greece, are critical and must be pursued, that “in a time of uncertainty, weakening strategic partnerships is not an option” and that Cyprus will continue to work closely with its European and regional allies to ensure such projects move forward and strengthen regional security.
At the same time, the House President stressed that “no European security architecture can be complete while Cyprus remains divided” and indicated that the EU must play a more active role in restarting reunification talks under UN and EU principles.
She added the Greek Cypriot side is waiting to see whether the election of a new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community will offer a new opportunity for the resumption of negotiations, for progress towards a just, viable, and mutually acceptable solution, within the agreed framework, securing peace and prosperity within the EU.
‘Europe must deter aggression, defend its territory, and lead with confidence. This is the essence of European strategic autonomy – and the task we must now turn into reality’, she concluded.
In her intervention, Piki said that a series of major reforms have moved from design to delivery, changing the way the state interacts with citizens and businesses, such as the modernisation of the justice system and advancing a comprehensive tax reform, the acceleration of digitisation and the implementation of a socially balanced housing policy.
In her speech, Piki also spoke about the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, conveying that Cyprus is preparing to take it on “with a sense of responsibility and confidence.”
This milestone, she continued, will allow us to shape the European agenda on issues central to our region: security, energy, migration, the digital transition, and sustainable growth.
Emphasizing that “the story of Cyprus today is one of transformation,” the Deputy Minister to the President said that ‘through reform, we are building a more effective and future-ready state. Through investment, we are expanding opportunity and innovation; through integrity, we are ensuring that everything we build rests on trust.”
These three pillars, she pointed out, define the way we govern and grow, “shaping a Cyprus that is more resilient, more competitive, and more relevant on the world stage’, stressing that “this is our vision.”
Resilience is not built by governments alone, but through partnerships with business, with academia, with international friends, and above all, with citizens, concluded Piki.