Progress in negotiations for the new Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 (MFF) is a key priority, said the President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, during her meeting in Nicosia with European Court of Auditors (ECA) President Tony Murphy.
According to a House statement, the 8 January meeting took place in the context of the parliamentary dimension of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026, with Murphy being accompanied by Cypriot ECA member Lefteris Christoforou.
Welcoming the ECA President to Cyprus, Demetriou "emphasized that the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency and its parliamentary dimension focus on strengthening European security and defence, the competitiveness of the European economy, and strengthening the values of the Union for the benefit of all European citizens." She noted that progress in the negotiations on the new Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 (MFF) is also a key priority, it is added.
According to the statement, the ECA President referred to the institutional role of the ECA as the EU's independent external auditor and its contribution to the MFF dialogue, "highlighting the particular challenges that exist at a time of increasing pressure on the European budget and intensifying demands for tangible results." He said in this regard that the ECA will issue Opinions on the European Commission's proposals regarding the MFF and its individual aspects, it is added.
Demetriou "assured" Murphy that the ECA's Opinions are always studied with interest and stressed that serving the EU's fundamental objectives and priorities is of particular importance, it is stated.
In any case, as Demetriou emphasized, EU budget resources must be allocated in accordance with the principles of transparency, accountability, and effectiveness, which are parameters that shape citizens' trust, highlighting the ECA's contribution in this direction, it is added.
Finally, the House President expressed the intention to maintain an open channel of communication between the House and the ECA on issues of common interest to be discussed in the context of conferences of the parliamentary dimension of the Cyprus EU Presidency, the statement concludes.
(Source: CNA)
