Parliamentarians from Cyprus and Ireland stressed the need of EU unity and common stance to all key issues concerning the individual Member States, during a discussion at the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, in Nicosia, which was attended by the President of the Lower House of Ireland, Seán Ó Fearghaíl and a delegation, consisting of MPs Brendan Howlin and Ruairí Ó Murchú.
From the Cypriot side, the MPs stressed the need for the EU to show the same solidarity and sensitivity it shows towards Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, also in the case of Cyprus suffering from Turkey’s actions, as well as for the huge migration pressures that the country is facing. The need to strengthen Cyprus-Ireland cooperation in the field of higher education was also noted.
The Irish delegation noted the solidarity it has received from the EU concerning Brexit and the new challenges it faces, especially with regard to the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was part of the Brexit agreement, but Britain is now trying to act on it unilaterally.
The President of the Irish Lower House thanked Cyprus for its support on the issue of Brexit, stating that unfortunately the issue is still ongoing. He said that small countries often have common interests and must support each other.
He stressed that a great area of common interest between the two countries is conflict resolution and wished for unity to be achieved in Cyprus, noting that Ireland fully supports a bi-zonal bi-communal solution to the problem. He also noted that it must be heartbreaking for Cypriots to look at the green line and to see soldiers of the occupying force and added that “we need to get rid of that”. He also noted the need for local leadership on both sides to move forward.
On the issue of higher education, he said that they are committed to raising the issue of further cooperation with Cyprus, in the academic institutions of Ireland. He also spoke about the need for EU support for front-line countries regarding migration, while noting the need for the EU, in addition to the unified response to Ukraine, to see what is happening in other parts of the world where there are still crises, such as Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen.
The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, DISY MP Harris Georgiades, said that Russia’s invasion in Ukraine should be a wake-up call for the EU in terms of the need to formulate an effective foreign policy. As he said, similar aggressive actions by Turkey have been going on for years in Cyprus and the EU must ensure that its foreign policy will work effectively in the Eastern Mediterranean. As he said, Turkey’s actions in the Eastern Mediterranean constitute an open issue and a very open threat to Europe’s stability, while adding that the EU needs to have a credible policy regarding Turkey.
He also stressed the need for EU unity and credibility in its stance on all important issues, such as Brexit, immigration, the environment and open markets.
Source: Cyprus News Agency