SECRETARY-General of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Jeremy Wates, said yesterday the Cypriot EU presidency was facing a real challenge in leading the bloc to renew its commitment to sustainable development.Wates was speaking at a presentation with Agriculture Minister Sophoclis Aletraris of Cyprus’s environment programme for the presidency, which begins on July 1.Wates said that as of the end of next month, Cyprus would be anything but a peripheral EU country. It will be in the centre of Europe, in the political sense, he said.“You take over the presidency at a time of two crises, the economic is in the forefront but more serious is the environmental crisis” he said... 3 comments

MEPs from the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament (EP) yesterday met with a number of officials to discuss matters of economy, ahead of Cyprus taking over the EU presidency in July.At the centre of discussions were the sovereign debt crisis, financial regulation and constraints specific to smaller economies.Speaking after their meeting, Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly said he was satisfied with the “very constructive meetings” and underlined Cyprus’ commitment to “spare no effort to reach compromises with the parliament”.The Committee Chair, British MEP Sharon Bowles was equally impressed. “The Cypriots have shown enthusiasm for the presidency,” said Bowles. “I’m sure it will be very successful... Read on

CYPRUS MUST run a successful EU presidency to counter Turkey’s claims that a “half state” can’t handle the six-month rotating presidency, said President Demetris Christofias yesterday.Speaking during a visit to Cyprus’ EU presidency Secretariat yesterday, Christofias said Cypriot officials had to see to the tiniest detail in their preparations to ensure the presidency is a success: “Because our country is small, and because the occupying power tries in every way to instill the suspicion both within and outside the EU that we are not capable, because Mr (Tayyip) Erdogan and Mr (Egemen) Bagis say we are supposedly a half state... 7 comments

CITY of London Mayor Lord David Wooton yesterday visited the Presidential Palace, where Cyprus’ EU presidency term in July was at the centre of discussions.After his meeting with President Demetris Christofias, Wooton - who was accompanied by the president of the committee for policy and resources of the city of London, Stewart Frazer – said he was in Cyprus in view of Cyprus assuming the EU Presidency on July 1. His meeting with Christofias, he added, “was fruitful and the president set out his thoughts about the EU presidency and its importance to Cyprus”. ... Read on

CYPRIOT and British Bases’ authorities will jointly share security at the high-profile ceremony to mark the island’s assumption of the EU presidency, which will be held at Curium, which lies within bases territory, and officialy outside the EU.Cyprus, due to take over the presidency of the EU council from Denmark on July 1, will host the formal ceremony at Curium. State broadcaster CyBC reported that the bases authorities wanted to have the last word on security.It said the matter would be discussed next week between the SBA and Cyprus officials and police representatives and suggested that on a political level there was strong resistance to the bases having the final say. “We can’t comment at this stage,” a bases spokesperson said yesterday. ... 6 comments

THE EU should not accept any Turkish threats against the Republic of Cyprus, which will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2012, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has stressed. Speaking yesterday during a press conference with President Demetris Christofias in Nicosia, the Polish Prime Minister noted that the Republic of Cyprus would assume the EU presidency as a member state of the Union and will thus represent the whole Union. “It is not possible to have any threat for the presidency and we do not accept, and I believe, the EU should not accept these threats,” Tusk said. “We hope that there will not be any move that will weaken Cyprus because we will perceive this as weakening of the EU... 4 comments

POLISH PRIME Minister Donald Tusk was due in Cyprus last night for a two-day visit to discuss preparations for Cyprus’ EU Presidency in the second half of this year. Tusk meets President Demetris Christofias at the Presidential Palace this morning, followed by talks between the delegations of the two countries. Christofias will later host a lunch for the visiting PM. He leaves Cyprus later this afternoon after spending a few hours in Ayia Napa first on a private programme.Poland was the first of the Trio Presidency countries to take charge of the Council of the EU, followed by Denmark, the current holder, and Cyprus on July 1... Read on

WITH THE government revelling in the fact that they are to take over the EU presidency from July 2012, one would be forgiven for asking “is this going to be another documented period of embarrassment?” When the great moment arrives - the world, let alone the remaining 26 member states of the European Union will witness a fledgling addition to the EU outwardly give the impression that they endorse and embrace all that is European, when obviously the reverse is evident on a daily basis. ... 6 comments

ORGANISING more than 200 conferences in Cyprus during the Republic’s Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of the year offers the opportunity to promote Cyprus as a destination for conference tourism, Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) acting director general Lefkos Fylaktides said yesterday.Speaking about the role of the CTO in Cyprus’ EU Presidency, Fylaktides said the CTO acknowledges that a successful presidency is a matter of utmost importance for Cyprus, calling on all stakeholders who will be involved in accommodating and hosting delegates to give their best self for a successful outcome.''We are committed to undertake every effort to ensure the success of the Cypriot presidency,'' he added. ... 3 comments

IN TIMES of deep crisis, the authorities need to be “extra vigilant” to protect fundamental human rights, said the EU’s human rights chief, Morten Kjaerum, yesterday on a visit to Cyprus. The head of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) yesterday met with the ministers of interior and justice Neoclis Sylikiotis and Loucas Louca to discuss Cyprus priorities for its EU Presidency in the second half of 2012.Speaking after the meeting, Kjaerum said: “As regards the difficult times we are facing in Europe in terms of the economic crisis, it is of course a challenge when it comes to the protection of fundamental rights. But it is in times of deep crises when we really have to be extra vigilant in terms of protecting human rights.” ... Read on