Alden biesen: The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, has emphasized the significance of the EU informal meeting taking place in Alden Biesen, marking it as one of the most pivotal gatherings. He is attending the meeting with eight specific proposals aimed at enhancing the EU's competitiveness and establishing decisions with clear timelines.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides highlighted the importance of the informal Council, convened by the President of the European Council, following a joint letter from 22 Member States, including Cyprus. The initiative was spearheaded by the French President. He equated the importance of this Summit to the informal Council held in Brussels last year, which focused on defence and security issues.
The President emphasized that last year's Summit led to notable progress in defence and security within a year, a topic that had been discussed for decades without tangible results. He expressed hope that similar concrete decisions with timelines could be achieved at the current meeting to bolster EU competitiveness.
President Christodoulides reiterated that strengthening competitiveness is a top priority for Cyprus during its presidency, aligned with enhancing the EU's strategic autonomy. He stressed that significant decisions are anticipated, and the informal Council should pave the way for concrete actions rather than prolonged discussions.
On the sidelines of the meeting, President Christodoulides plans to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss the latter's recent meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Additionally, discussions among Mediterranean EU member states will focus on a common approach to an invitation by the US President regarding the Gaza issue.
President Christodoulides identified the completion of the Single Market as the top aspect of competitiveness, citing the EU's vast market potential. He also mentioned the importance of advancing free trade agreements, such as those with the United Arab Emirates and Australia, and advocated for deregulation where possible.
Ahead of the meeting, President Christodoulides engaged with various European and Cypriot organizations, including BusinessEurope and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to prepare his proposals. He stressed that competitiveness should remain a constant agenda item until 2026 to track progress and address existing challenges.
Regarding the Cypriot plan's approval under the SAFE financial instrument, President Christodoulides expressed satisfaction with the significant internal work done, leading to the approval of 1.2 billion pounds for Cyprus.
In response to a question about common debt as a tool for competitiveness, President Christodoulides advocated for an open discussion without excluding any possibilities. He prioritized the completion of the Single Market and the uniform cost of energy across the EU as areas for immediate action.
The President also acknowledged the initiative by the German Chancellor, the Italian Prime Minister, and the Belgian Prime Minister for convening the 'friends of competitiveness' group, highlighting its importance to nearly all EU member states.
President Christodoulides emphasized collaboration with the European Commission, noting the presence of the Commission's President as crucial for moving forward in a concrete manner.