With Cyprus at the helm “I know that Europe is in the best of hands” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said, while President Nikos Christodoulides assured that together with the European Parliament Cyprus is determined to strengthen Europe from within and reinforce its role as a force of stability, peace and prosperity.
They were speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, 20 January after President Christodoulides had presented the country’s EU Council Presidency priorities before the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Metsola extended the European Parliament’s support in reaching a solution of the Cyprus problem based on UN resolutions and EU values. They both reiterated solidarity and respect for Denmark’s and Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while at the same time pointing out the importance of the transatlantic relationship and noting that what is needed to find solutions is dialogue and speaking in favour of de-escalation.
“It is a pleasure to welcome President Christodoulides to the European Parliament at a moment when Europe is being tested from security and geopolitics to competitiveness and if there is one thing that we can take from today’s session with all the MEPs is that Europe must respond with clarity and resolve,” Metsola said.
She thanked the President for his presentation saying that “with your country at the helm I know that Europe is in the best of hands.”
Competitiveness priority
We know that a priority in the next six months will continue to be competitiveness, and parliament will continue to make good on the simplification agenda, cutting down on unnecessary red tape, something you also said in our speech, to make it easier for our companies to succeed.
Focusing on competitiveness also means looking outward at new trade opportunities and strengthening our Single Market therefore we need more integration across borders less fragmentation across markets and on this we know that we can find a trusted partner in Cyprus.
On security and defence we will continue to ramp up Europe’s readiness and spending as we adapt to new realities and remain steadfast in our support of Ukraine, we have done a great deal but we need to continue to push forward efficiently, she added.
The situation with Greenland
Metsola said referring to the situation with Greenland that “we will keep doing what we can to deescalate the situation, to find solutions and to work to reinforce the transatlantic relationship”.
She said that US Speaker Mike Johnson speaking at the House of Commons today “echoed what I said in plenary yesterday that whatever challenges we face the outcomes will be stronger when we act together.”
We are clear, Metsola pointed out, “that any way forward will need to respect Greenland’s and Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will keep supporting Denmark and the people of Greenland and that will not change.”
On Thursday, she added, “I will join the European Council also to clarify the latest steps from our end.”
“We will always remain unapologetic for standing up to our way but we remain also open to dialogue and to finding a way forward,” she said.
Referring to developments in Iran, Metsola said that they send “the clearest message that people in Iran deserve to live in liberty and they are looking to Europe to act.” She spoke of tougher sanctions to be proposed by European Parliament including categorising the Islamic revolution corps as a terror organization and “I hope we make progress on this soon.”
Commitment to Cyprus
She reaffirmed the European Parliament's commitment to Cyprus. “The European Parliament will keep working towards a single, sovereign European state. A bicommunal, bizonal federation in line with UN resolutions and rooted in our shared values and EU laws,” she noted. This, she stressed, “is an issue for all of us, you are not alone and this was echoed by many colleagues in the room.”
She commended the “excellent leadership and cooperation” we have seen from Cyprus in the first not so easy days. “The next months will remain challenging, but I know that we will make progress under your leadership under your country’s steadfast guidance I firmly believe we have what it takes to overcome the challenges,” she stressed.
“You can count on the full support and partnership of this house,” she concluded.
A critical and challenging time
On his part, President Christodoulides said that “as we lead the Council at this very critical and challenging time, the European Parliament is indispensable to the success of our presidency.” He assured that that this “will guide our work across the board. The EP is not only our co-legislator it is the democratic heart of our Union.”
“We will work in a structured and meaningful partnership to advance our shared objectives, that is a stronger Union that delivers for its people, a Union that remains a force of stability and reliability,” the President noted.
He assured that the partnership is grounded on transparency mutual respect and continuous dialogue.
Cyprus, he said, assumes the Presidency after two years of intensive preparations. This, he pointed out, “is not just a national milestone but a European responsibility especially at a time of global, geopolitical, economic and security challenges.”
“Our vision is clear: an EU which is strong from within, capable to protecting its citizens and a union which remains open to the world with a credible global role,” he added.
President Christodoulides spoke of a European Union which delivers for its citizens and becomes a space where our innovators and businesses thrive. The European project was built through courage, through resilience in the face of adversity driven by cooperation and the determination to advance even in the most of uncertain of times
Strengthening Europe’s autonomy, deepening European integration is the most natural continuation of this historic journey, he said.
“Together with the European Parliament Cyprus is determined to strengthen Europe from within and reinforce its role as a force of stability, peace and prosperity,” the President stressed.
He thanked the President of the European Parliament for her “clear, steadfast support in our efforts to reunite the last divided member state of the EU.”
Drastic countermeasures
Replying to a question about whether the EU should appease the US or whether it should take drastic countermeasures Metsola said that this is a discussion which will take place intensively over the coming days at the European Council where she will participate.
I think, she noted, “the point of autonomy, which is the main, overarching subject of the Cypriot Presidency can answer that question because if there is one thing that we have learnt over the past years is that the EU has been far too dependent on third countries.”
“I think when it comes to security and energy we need to stand on our own two feet and take greater responsibility, something which will be debated in Parliament in the coming weeks and months,” she added.
But really, Metsola said, 2026 will be about that. It is no longer business as usual. We need to adapt, we need to be calm, to find dialogue and solutions.
European unity will be key and if we are united, we can send the strongest of messages of partnership and dialogue, she pointed out.
On his part, President Christodoulides said that “Cyprus understands better the situation than any other member state of the EU we are steadfast in our support for international law and the principles of the UN Charter and in this context, we fully support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states including off course Denmark which is our partner.”
He referred to a COREPER meeting the Council Presidency convened on Sunday where all member states expressed their support for all these.
As Presidency, he said I can say that EU member states are united in their respect for international law as well as in solidarity for Denmark and Greenland. He said that he was in touch Danish Prime President we talked on the phone on Sunday evening.
At the same time, he added, “we greatly value transatlantic relations and the EU – US partnership
He reiterated that “escalation or imposition are in no-one’s interest.” He also referred to discussion at European Council level in the coming days.
(Source: CNA)
