The aim of the Cyprus Presidency is to further strengthen the European Union’s social model, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Hadjistephanou Papaellina has stressed.
She made her remarks at the informal session of the European Union’s Social Protection Committee (SPC), which was held in Nicosia on 18–19 February.
According to the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare’s announcement, in her opening speech, Hadjistephanou Papaellina emphasised that poverty and social exclusion remain multidimensional challenges that need to be addressed with coherent and mutually reinforcing policies. She highlighted that strengthening support services constitutes a structural social investment, contributing to human dignity, employment sustainability, and the long-term social cohesion and resilience of the European Union.
The central topic of the thematic discussion, the Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry Yiannis Nicolaidis noted on his part, was the role of support services in combating poverty and promoting social inclusion and activation. According to Nicolaidis, the discussion focused on implementing a comprehensive approach to the active inclusion of all citizens in society, as outlined in the European Pillar of Social Rights and relevant EU recommendations.
The announcement also states that during the closing session, the Chair of the Social Protection Committee, Ulrike Neufang, Phanos Kouroufexis who was representing the Committee on behalf of the Cyprus Presidency, and the Director of the European Commission’s Directorate‑General for Social Rights and Social Inclusion, Katarina Ivankovic‑Knezevic, underlined the importance of continuing close cooperation to further strengthen the social dimension of the European Union.
The meeting was hosted by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and brought together members of the Social Protection Committee, representatives of the European Commission, and officials from EU Member States. It aimed to exchange views on key social policy issues at the European level. The session was opened by Neufang and Ivankovic‑Knezevic.
The Deputy Ministry also notes that the meeting included a discussion dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Social Protection Committee, reflecting on its contribution to shaping European social policy and exchanging views on future challenges and opportunities.
(Source: CNA)
