The European Union has supported and will continue to support the efforts for a Cyprus solution, heads of the European Representation in Cyprus Myrto Zambarta and the office of the European Parliament in Cyprus Andreas Kettis have told CNA.
In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency on the occasion of the 20 years since the country’s accession to the EU on May 1st, Zambarta and Kettis discuss the benefits of the European Union for Cyprus, review Cyprus’ participation in the EU and speak about what is at stake in the June European elections.
EU will continue to support efforts for Cyprus solution
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Asked about the European Commission’s contribution in the efforts for a Cyprus solution so far and how it can contribute in the future Zambarta notes that ‘the European Commission has always been there in all efforts for a solution, even before accession.’
‘Obviously, our key principle is that we want to see a solution of the Cyprus problem which will be based in the model of a Bizonal Bicommu
nal Federation with political equality, just as is provided for in UN Security Council resolutions,’ she says, adding that ‘we are here to support the effort, just as we did before accession but also in all the efforts after accession.’
She explains that the approach is in two levels. ‘The first, and perhaps the most important one is the technocratic,’ level, she notes, pointing out that any solution must help Cyprus be an active, equal EU member, that there needs to be compatibility with Acquis Communautaire, the main freedoms must be adhered to etc. This condition, she points out, ‘has not changed.’
On a political level, the European official recalls that European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker and head of EU diplomacy Federica Mogherini at the time were present in both Crans-Montana and Geneva. ‘I don’t think this will change,’ she says, adding that ‘we have still not reached the stage of negotiations, but we continue to support every effort.’
The head of the European Commission representation
also points out that the Commission undertakes ‘many efforts to bring the communities closer at citizen level, precisely so that we can cultivate the future.’
‘We don’t want once the solution is here to start from zero within the communities, that is to say for them to be completely alienated,’ she stresses.
‘Our goal is to set in the solution on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions, which however should be the product of the communities themselves because that is the only way it will be sustainable,’ she adds.
Replying to the same question Kettis says that ‘it is important to stress that all Cyprus Presidents in recent years when negotiations under UN aegis had reached a peak, recognized the very positive role EU technocrats played in the negotiating process.’ At a point, he explains where the two sides were trying to reach some convergences and many times there were different approaches or even a lack of knowledge.
EU contribution ‘was crucial in order to achieve convergences and at the end of t
he day we saw that we had convergences in the great majority of matters to do with interior governance and the participation of Cyprus in the EU, how the future federal state will work within the institutional framework.
He further cites a recent statement of European Parliament President Roberta Mtsola that ‘the European Parliament will never accept a two-state solution. Never.’ This, he adds, ‘is entirely outside the UN framework.’ He also refers to relevant European Parliament resolutions on the Cyprus problem, noting that ‘they may not be mandatory but they carry great political weight.’
‘The European Parliament has made it clear that it will never accept a two-state solution and that a solution must be within the agreed framework, that is to say a Bicommunal, Bizonal Federation with political equality,’ Kettis says.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of nego
tiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.
Cyprus has matured as a member state, EU Council Presidency a milestone
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Asked to evaluate the 20 years of Cyprus in the EU, Zambarta recalls the feeling of euphoria everyone had in 2004. ‘I can’t believe that 20 years have gone by,’ she says, adding that ‘I believe that our expectations have been fulfilled to a great extent.’
Working for the European Commission I can see that Cyprus has matured as a member state, she notes, adding that the 1st of May 2004 was a great moment of geostrategic significance as it signalled the end of the Cold War. ‘Now I see Cyprus functioning as an important, equal and valuable EU member which contributes greatly to both the EU and the country itsel
f.
Kettis also evaluates Cyprus’ course within the EU in the last 20 years as a positive one. He believes that the Cyprus EU Council Presidency of 2012 was a milestone as during it everyone, Ministers and civil servants alike, realised what it means to be a member state caring first for the interests of European. ‘As you know when one assumes the Council’s Presidency they act having as a priority what will be the best for the common European interests rather than the national interests. The presidency ‘acts as an honest broker to achieve compromise,’ he said, adding that this is the primary role of the Presidency.
Thousands of invisible, small, daily benefits that we take for granted
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Replying to a question as to what the EU has offered Cyprus the head of the European Commission representation says that people usually focus on the big advantages such as the Euro, a general feeling of security or the support received during unprecedented crisis, such as the common purchase of vaccines
during the pandemic.
However, she points out, ‘the true benefit, which is difficult to communicate, are the thousands, invisible, small, daily benefits that Cypriots gain from our status as European citizens, that is to say how much our daily lives have improved which we do not see, is not something concrete.
She gives the examples of free movement across Europe without visas and restrictions, the free medical care everywhere in Europe when we are travelling, access to education, the automatic recognition of degrees from Cypriot universities, the ability to work freely without having to undergo special procedures.
There are also many social benefits, she continues, citing as examples the minimum wage, parental leave. The EU, she notes, has in place the highest protection system for food, medicines and products across the world. We see it as something simple but if a product is found not to be safe for example in Portugal it will be immediately withdrawn in Cyprus as well, she explains.
This, she says, ‘is
a huge benefit which we do not take into account because we are used to taking it for granted.’
Zambarta also speaks about the support the EU provides to the government of Cyprus to implement its goals, whether in terms of financial help for infrastructure projects or by way of expertise or best practices.
She further recalls that a great benefit of being in the EU is the collective decision making. ‘All decisions are taken together, by the member states’ governments at the Council and the European Parliament, the representatives of the people, it is not Brussels who decide,’ she stresses.
‘This the essence of the EU, that we decided that it is better to act collectively rather than on our own,’ she adds.
Kettis refers to everything that the European Parliament does to benefit Cypriot citizens, recalling that for many issues the European Parliament legislates together with the EU Council.
Throughout the years, the European Parliament is always a step ahead in the defence of citizens human rights even fro
m the European Commission who proposes legislation.
In this context, the head of the European Parliament office notes that ‘many times, when we have to do with social, labour, environmental matters, touching upon citizens daily lives, we have seen that the European Parliament pushes the legislation to become more friendly to citizens rather than to the national governments or big businesses.’
‘The European Parliament is the guardian angel of citizens within the institutional framework of the EU,’ he adds.
Referring to Cyprus’ contribution the EU Zambarta speaks among other things to the fact that Cyprus, brings to the table its optic as the member state at the most eastern part of the EU and the ties it has with other countries in the region. To that effect she gives as an example Cyprus’ ‘Amalthea’ maritime humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza initiative. She also refers to the rich cultural heritage of Cyprus which has now become part of the EU culture collage as well as the thousands of scientists and prof
essionals working across Europe contributing to the continent’s prosperity.
Head of the European Parliament’s office in Cyprus speaks about the fact that Cyprus has become a trustworthy partner within the EU and a member state which contributes. ‘The EU gains not just from our participation but also because our partners and EU institutions have realised Cyprus’ geopolitical importance,’ he says.
‘If you just look at the map and see where Cyprus is in the eastern part of the Mediterranean you would understand the geostrategic benefit and advantage of Cyprus being here as a member state in this very sensitive politically region of Southeastern Europe,’ he notes.
Asked about the work Cypriot MEPs have accomplished throughout the years Kettis says he is proud. ‘They are only six but they make a lot of noise, in the good sense of the word, they work very hard within their political groups,’ he adds.
Having only six MEPs among 720 is a small number, but despite that ‘the work done and Cypriot MEP’s status is fa
r greater than the number six,’ he notes.
Citizens will decide EU direction in upcoming European elections
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Replying to a question about the European Elections in June Kettis speaks about what is at stake, pointing out that ‘the geopolitical framework has changed and the only hope that we Europeans have is to be united in the direction of achieving our common goals within the European institutional framework.’
‘The EU is the best thing that has happened to our country in the last 20 years and Cyprus’ greatest diplomatic win,’ he says, adding that ‘it is our hope for our country’s reunification because without the European framework, I think everyone recognizes that there is no chance of reaching reunification on the basis of principles and values.’
‘The EU constitutes the best security and prosperity guarantee both for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots as well as the broader region,’ he stresses.
According to Kettis ‘as the geopolitical framework ups the challenges it is importan
t for everyone to assume their responsibility and to take part in the European elections, because by casting our vote we are deciding the political direction the EU will take in the next 5 years.’
Zambarta also urges citizens to vote in the upcoming European elections.
These elections, she notes, ‘are crucial for European citizens and Europe’s future.’
‘The policies which will drafted and decided in the next five years will shape today and the years to follow,’ she explains.
‘If you do not want others to decide for you then you have no other en choice but to make your voice heard; Vote,’ she concludes.
Source: Cyprus News Agency