Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, highlighted the need for an "ambitious and realistic" European response to the challenges facing the transport sector in the light of the Middle East crisis.
He was addressing the meeting of the heads of transport administration in Limassol.
Referring to the Cypriot Presidency's motto 'An Autonomous Union, open to the world' at the 16 April event, Vafeades pointed out that it "reflects our shared ambition to strengthen the Union’s strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness, while remaining firmly committed to openness, cooperation and a rules-based international order."
"In the field of transport, this vision translates into a stronger, better connected and more resilient European transport system that serves citizens, businesses and our collective security," he added.
Cyprus assumed the Presidency at a time when transport policy stands at the heart of Europe’s strategic choices, Vafeades said. "Transport today is no longer only about mobility. It is about competitiveness and the smooth functioning of the internal market; it is about social cohesion and accessibility; it is about delivering on our climate objectives in a credible manner; and increasingly, it is also about resilience and security," he emphasised.
At the same time, Transport Minister said that geopolitical developments in the Middle East, including air space closures and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, are increasingly impacting global oil and fuel markets. "These developments have led to significant price increases for oil products, notably diesel and jet fuel, with direct consequences for the European transport sector," he noted.
"While we are not currently facing fuel shortages in the European Union, the sustained volatility in global energy markets is already affecting transport operators, logistics chains and connectivity," Vafeades pointed out, noting that "the increase in fuel costs is contributing to broader inflationary pressures across the economy and generating uncertainty for businesses and citizens alike."
He went on to say that for Cyprus, as an island and external border Member State, these challenges are immediate and tangible. "Connectivity, energy security and resilient supply chains are strategic necessities," he noted.
According to the Cypriot Minister, this "reinforces the need for a European response that is both ambitious and realistic — one that strengthens competitiveness, reduces dependencies and delivers concrete results for all Member States." Cyprus, he assured, "in its role as Presidency, is committed to acting as a bridge-builder and to advancing practical, balanced outcomes."
In her address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Dr. Marina Ioannou-Hasapi, said that "developments in the Middle East and their impact on transport routes, supply chains, and energy markets remind us of the need for resilience, preparedness, and coordination."
"Cyprus, in its role as Presidency, will continue to act as an honest broker, promoting pragmatic, balanced and implementable solutions that reflect the diversity of our Union," she noted, adding that "our guiding approach remains clear: cooperation, realism and results."
(Source: CNA)
