President Christodoulides in Brussels for European Council meeting

President Nikos Christodoulides, is anticipated to be travelling to Brussels on 13 December, for the European Council meeting to be held on the 14 and 15 of December, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis has announced.

He noted that President Christodoulides will refer to the initiative of the Republic of Cyprus for the establishment of a safe sea corridor for the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza.

Speaking during his regular media briefing on 12 December, Letymbiotis said that the European Council will be preceded by the EU-Western Balkans Summit on 13 December. The Summit takes place in the context of the reaffirmation of the European Union's commitment to the Western Balkans and their European course.

On Thursday, 14 December, the President of the Republic will participate in the traditional preparatory meeting of the European People's Party, which precedes the work of the European Council.

The European Council, the Spokesperson said, will be largely concerned with the important issue of the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework, in which the key issue of immigration has been included, in terms of its internal and external dimension, a position that the Republic of Cyprus has highlighted and supported as a priority issue.

The situation in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal invasion, as well as developments in the Middle East will also be on the agenda of the European Council, the Government Spokesperson said, adding that the Republic of Cyprus will underline the need for substantial EU involvement in reviving the political process in the Middle East.

President Christodoulides will also refer to the initiative of the Republic of Cyprus to establish a safe sea corridor for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza, he added.

The agenda of the European Council also includes, Letymbiotis noted, a discussion on the enlargement of the EU, with the opening of the accession process with Ukraine and Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina under certain conditions, and the granting of candidate country status to Georgia.

The Republic of Cyprus is expected to support the European Commission's recommendations, he said, weighing as a key element the preservation of the meritocratic enlargement process and the equal treatment of the partners.

(Source: CNA)