Fisheries and Oceans Commissioner, Costas Kadis, has referred to the challenges facing the European Union, ranging from security and geopolitics to the climate crisis, energy dependence and food security.
Commenting on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address delivered on 16 September, Kadis said she had outlined the environment in which the EU currently operates and the challenges it faces. More specifically, he referred to the war in Ukraine, developments in the Middle East, rising energy and fuel prices, as well as the climate crisis.
At the same time, he noted that European policies should aim to make the Union more independent from external dependencies, referring in particular to fuels, food and raw materials. He added that strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy is also particularly important, including through the completion of the single market.
Kadis said the Commission President’s reference to defending European territory was particularly important for Cyprus as well.
The Commissioner also referred to the need to strengthen the EU’s geopolitical position and to relations with Canada, noting the significance of the Canadian Prime Minister’s presence at the debate. He added that closer EU-Canada relations form part of a broader effort to cooperate with partners with whom the Union shares common priorities.
(Source: CNA)
