The Interior Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Costas Constantinou, participated in meetings in Strasbourg for the promotion of island policy at EU level, where the issues faced by Cyprus were also emphasised.
According to a press release, published by PIO, Dr. Constantinou, as the representative of the Republic of Cyprus in the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), participated on Tuesday in meetings and a working lunch in Strasbourg, with Regional Governors, government officials in charge of island policy, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, the Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Regional Development (REGI), Younous Omarjee, and other MEPs.
During the meetings, views were exchanged on the need to develop integrated strategies, to enable the islands of the European Union to face the challenges and overcome the obstacles posed due to their geographical location, as well as ways to promote an island policy on the European Union’s political agenda.
According to the announcement, the issued faced by Cyprus, “as the outermost member state, as well as the state with the proportionally, largest migration flows,” were emphasised.
While in Strasbourg, Constantinou attended the debate in the Plenary Session of the European Parliament on Omarjee’s report on EU islands and cohesion policy, current situation and future challenges. The report was approved on Tuesday, by 577 votes in favour, 38 against and 10 abstentions.
It is noted that the peripheral and outermost European island regions have a population of over 20 million, spread in around 2,400 islands in 13 countries and represent 4.6% of the EU population.
“The adoption of the European Parliament resolution is an important opportunity for Cyprus, as an island country, as the preparation of a European strategy for the islands further strengthens the economic, social, environmental and territorial cohesion of our country,” the press release concludes.
Source: Cyprus News Agency