The 28th Interparliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) will take place in Nicosia between 3-5 March. The Conference is hosted by the House of Representatives in the framework of the parliamentary dimension of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
A press release issued by the parliament said that the Conference will be held in the presence of European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius, former Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas, European Commission's Special Representative for the Middle East, Christophe Bigot and over 200 members of Parliament from the Parliaments of the member states of the European Union, the European Parliament, candidate countries for accession, as well as observer states.
President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, will open the Conference on March 4. The proceedings will be co-chaired by Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs of the House of Representatives, Haris Georgiades, and Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, David McAllister.
During the first session of the Conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, will present the priorities and strategies of the CFSP and CSDP. The second session will focus on strengthening the EU's role in the Middle East and North Africa. Keynote speakers will be former Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, and EU Special Representative for the Middle East, Christophe Bigot.
A discussion will follow on the current developments regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Keynote speaker will be Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Parliament of Ukraine, Oleksandr Merezhko.
On Thursday, participants will discuss about the issue of building a stronger and more effective European defence. Keynote speakers will be European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius and Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Security and Defence Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann.
In addition, there will be meetings of delegations of the parliaments of the Mediterranean countries (Group Med), the European political groups, as well as the Presidential Troika (Denmark, Cyprus, Ireland and the EC).
(Source: CNA)
