Maintaining peace on the European continent and cooperation between member states for a better future were the main messages of Europe Day celebrations, which took place on Sunday, 8 May, at Eleftheria Square, in Nicosia.
In his introductory speech, the Mayor of Nicosia, Constantinos Yiorkadjis, said that Cyprus as an EU Member State has managed many crises for the benefit of its citizens.
“We have benefited significantly as a state and as societies from the benefits of the Union’s regional policy, which is a true example of European solidarity. The contribution of these European funds for Nicosia is reflected here in particular with the redevelopment of Eleftheria Square, but also the centre of the capital in general,” he added.
“Today, more than ever before, there is a need for Europe to stand united and in solidarity with Ukraine. At such times we have a duty towards our common history to remember that we are both Europeans and patriots because that is what Europe is, united in its diversity,” he added.
Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said that today the peoples of Europe need a united Europe more than ever, as the continent faces internal and external challenges and threats.
“We Cypriots recognize that our participation in the EU is extremely important for our security, stability and prosperity. It is our duty to work together with our partners to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in Europe and the world,” he added.
“The Russian invasion in Ukraine obliges us to remain united. We need a new security architecture, we need a new concept on the European project and that is what we are going to do. The Ambassador of Ukraine is present today, we have applauded him not only as a gesture of solidarity, but also for the heroism of the Ukrainian people. This people is subjected to a barbarous attack and yet they are resilient, they are resistant, and they are admired”, he added, referring to developments in Ukraine.
Head of the European Parliament Office in Cyprus Andreas Kettis said that the building of common supranational institutions, such as the European Parliament and the European Commission, founded the European Union and guarantee the continuation of the many benefits that citizens in all 27 member states of the Union enjoy today.
“The European Union stands with one voice on the side of Ukraine and the European Parliament is doing everything it can to support the Ukrainian people in defending the national sovereignty and integrity of the country. This year’s Europe Day therefore is even more significant as an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to peace, to show our solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and to uphold universal values such as freedom and democracy in a rules-based world order” he added.
Ambassador Salina Grenet-Catalano of France, on behalf of the country holding the current six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union, said that the war Russia launched against Ukraine shows that Europe still needs to fully protect its values and faced with this challenge the Union has proven its strength during the past weeks. “We have been able to react promptly and unanimously to this war by putting in place an unprecedented sanctions regime to push Russia to agree on a ceasefire. Even though this war affects our economies, we must stand together if Europe is to emerge stronger” she said.
“We must move towards a greener, more independent and more efficient Europe. We need also to move towards a more humanistic and more democratic Europe, a Europe that really listens to its citizens. Tomorrow on Europe Day we will know the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe and I hope that this unprecedented democratic exercise will enable us to build a stronger Union for the decades to come,” the French diplomat underlined.
The Head of the European Commission Representation in Cyprus Myrto Zabarta stressed that the focus should now be on the Europe of the future, “a Europe that protects, that encourages, that reflects the wishes of our citizens, especially the young people to whom this year is dedicated. The European Year of Youth 2022 aims to involve young people in key consultation processes and focuses on restoring positive prospects for young people in Europe.”
“The time has come for the EU to become a social union with strong rights for all workers, with equality between men and women, with quality and safe work, taking effective measures to tackle youth unemployment, income inequality and the huge differences in living conditions and social security,” she said.
Commissioner for the Citizen Panayiotis Sentonas said that democracy and peace are not a given and the ongoing war in Ukraine is a painful reminder, adding that “what keeps Europe together and makes it strong is its democratic vitality, that it is based on democratic principles and that it has the rule of law at its core”.
He also welcomed the 2022 European Year of Youth and, as the body responsible for the implementation of the relevant actions in Cyprus, he said that his office issued a general call for participation in this effort, inviting young people to submit their proposals for a better Europe.
Finally, the Rector of the University of Cyprus, Tasos Christofides, stated in his speech that the European family is called upon to make the necessary transitions to ensure peace, to translate political developments in order to safeguard the interests of its member states and to protect its citizens as a whole.
“The EU has a lot to offer to European citizens. As Rector of the University of Cyprus, as an academic, I experience Europe’s contribution in the areas of development, research and the promotion of expanded synergies. Europe is many things, we only need to look around us in our own country carefully how many infrastructure projects have received EU funding,” he added.
“It is well known that states do not have positions of principle, but positions of interest. But those who have positions of principle are the citizens, who see the principles of freedom, equality, justice, social justice as fundamental ones. These principles must be the basis of the EU’s construction”, he concluded.
Source: Cyprus News Agency