For more than four decades, cohesion policy has been the European Union’s main investment policy and the cornerstone of the Single Market, Cyprus Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos said, presiding over the first session of the informal meeting of Ministers responsible for cohesion policy, hosted in the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, at the “Filoxenia” Conference Centre in Nicosia, on Friday morning.
During the first session, the Ministers will discuss the role of Cohesion Policy in providing the necessary incentives, development prospects, and employment opportunities so that European citizens can remain, prosper, and build their future in their home regions.
Keravnos said that cohesion policy has played a key role in modernising infrastructure, supporting SMEs, strengthening research and innovation, promoting digitalization and connectivity, and enhancing social cohesion across Europe. At the same time, he noted, it has acted as a stabilising force during times of crisis as a driver of long-term convergence and growth.
“Yesterday we visited the CYENS Centre of Excellence and we had the opportunity to see firsthand how cohesion policies support cities, research and innovation while contributing together with other EU policies to competitiveness and sustainable development,” Keravnos said, adding that, since joining the European Union, Cyprus has experienced the significant benefits and added value of cohesion policy across almost all sectors of economic activity, contributing significantly to economic growth, job creation and the country's overall development.
“Cohesion policy remains a key priority of the Cyprus Presidency”, he noted. In this context, he added, considerable efforts have been made to advance discussions and achieve progress on the legislative package concerning the national and regional partnership plans.
“I'm particularly pleased that today all key stakeholders of cohesion policy are gathered here, and I look forward to a substantive and constructive discussion,” he concluded.
Earlier, upon his arrival at the “Filoxenia” Conference Centre, Keravnos said that Ministers will discuss and exchange views on the strategy of the right to stay, stressing that it is an important issue. “We will discuss how every European citizen can live, work and stay in their homeland,” he noted, mentioning that this is particularly important for Cyprus, where “European Cypriot citizens don't have the right to stay in their homeland because of the Turkish invasion and occupation.”
He also added that the Ministers, during the second session, will discuss the strategy for the islands, “which is also an important issue under the cohesion policy,” as he said. Keravnos noted that the Ministers will exchange views and discuss the special characteristics of the island member states, that face problems since they are away from continental Europe. “They face problems of the cost of transportation, of energy and competitiveness issues,” he said.
Following the first session, a press conference will take place, with Keravnos and European Commissioner responsible for Cohesion and Reforms, Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto.
