Limassol: The College of Commissioners that met on Thursday in Cyprus, convened with members of the Cyprus Government, at Limassol Port, as part of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. Discussions covered four thematic clusters. Concurrently with the consultations, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, held a bilateral meeting.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the first thematic cluster, entitled 'A Global Union: Defence, Diplomacy, and Preparedness', focused on defence and security, enlargement, Ukraine, global engagement, including the EU's neighbourhood, preparedness and resilience, and migration.
Topics for discussion at the second cluster, 'A Prosperous and Resilient EU with Benefits Across All Regions' included the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Cohesion Policy, the Savings and Investments Union, health, the environment and climate, water resilience, the island dimension, and fisheries.
Participants at the third cluster, 'A Competitive, Sustainable, Digital, and Connected Union', discussed sustainable competitiveness, simplification, industrial sustainability, research and innovation; small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), energy security, affordable housing, digital transformation and technological sovereignty, sustainable transport, and sustainable tourism.
The fourth thematic cluster was entitled 'A Union of Values, Equality, and Opportunity'. It explored democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. There was an emphasis on children's rights and the rights of persons with disabilities. Employment was also covered, including quality jobs and labour mobility. Other areas of focus included gender equality, poverty reduction, cultural heritage, youth, education, training, and upskilling.
The discussions culminated in a plenary session, which was chaired by President Christodoulides and President von der Leyen, followed by a joint press conference.
As it is noted, the consultations took place at the New Passenger Terminal Building at Limassol Port, which is the main port of Cyprus. Today, Cyprus hosts one of the world's largest fleets and a dynamic maritime cluster covering the full range of shipping activities. Safeguarding and strengthening the EU's maritime transport competitiveness globally is a core priority of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Limassol Port serves as the departure, screening, and logistics hub for humanitarian operations under the Republic of Cyprus' 'Amalthea' plan. Named after the figure from Greek mythology who nurtured the infant Zeus, as a symbolic reference to altruism and generosity, the 'Amalthea' initiative was launched on 2 January 2024 in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It provides a reliable mechanism for collecting, storing, safely inspecting, and dispatching humanitarian aid cargoes.
The 'Amalthea' maritime corridor highlights the Republic of Cyprus' pivotal role in fostering closer ties between the Middle East and Europe, a key priority of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. This is achieved by leveraging the country's proximity to the region and its excellent relations with neighbouring countries, the press release noted.
As part of their visit to Cyprus, the Commissioners gained an authentic insight into the humanitarian operations carried out under the 'Amalthea' plan during a tour of the 'Amalthea' outdoor photography exhibition, produced by the Press and Information Office (PIO) of the Republic of Cyprus.
On Friday morning, the members of the College of Commissioners will be guided to the green line in Nicosia before leaving the island. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.