Cyprus and Ireland share long-standing, excellent relations that are anchored on common values and respect for rules-based international order and multilateralism, said Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, before her meeting with Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, on Tuesday in Nicosia.
She added that they would discuss shared priorities and important files, as well as ensuring that there is coherence and coordination in view of the two countries’ consecutive Presidencies of the Council of the European Union.
On his part, Byrne said that ‘it is a great time for a small country to take on that leadership role in the European Union. We are here to get results.”
In her statements, Raouna said that the visit takes place almost two months before the inauguration of the Cyprus EU Presidency and is particularly important because Ireland is the next Presidency of the Council of the EU.
She added that the visit provides the opportunity for both countries to coordinate on the important dossiers they will jointly manage, such as the Multiannual Financial Framework.
‘Cyprus and Ireland share long-standing, excellent relations that are anchored on common values, on respect for rules-based international order and multilateralism, as well as shared historical experiences’, stressed the Deputy Minister.
‘Your visit is important, given its timing as well. We are gearing ahead for our Presidency of the Council, and the Presidency that starts immediately after with the next Trio. I very much look forward to discussing together our shared priorities and important files, and ensuring that there is coherence and coordination,’ she concluded.
On his part, Thomas Byrne said that two small countries, Cyprus and Ireland, are following each other in the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
‘It is a great time for a small country to take on that leadership role in the European Union. We are here to get results. We are here to see what Marilena has in mind and I will be setting out what Ireland has in mind for the second half of next year,’ he continued.
‘There will undoubtedly be a lot going on. The Multiannual Financial Framework, security and defence, competitiveness in the world, to make sure the EU can continue to provide jobs and economic opportunities to people,’ he further noted.
‘Also to make sure as well that our values are respected, our human rights, our rule of law. That is something that we can preserve and maintain within the European Union, but also make sure that we use those values and found all our doings as a European Union on those values. We are looking forward to the discussions here in Nicosia and looking forward in particular to the Cyprus Presidency next year’, the Irish Minister concluded