All EU informal councils will be held as planned in Cyprus between April and June, Energy Minister Michael Damianos said on Monday, on arrival for the EU transport council in Brussels.

Damianos said the situation in Cyprus had returned to normal and that activities on the island continued as scheduled, including those in the framework of Cyprus’ EU presidency.

“Cyprus remains a safe and stable place and will always be part of the solution in any crisis in the region or the European Union,” he said.

Cyprus moved all March meetings online or postponed them after a drone strike on a British air base amid the Iran crisis earlier this month.

In his remarks, Damianos said the council was taking place at a time when fuel prices were on the rise.

He explained that the EU was facing a difficult situation, due to its dependence on mineral fuel and its exposure to external shocks.

Market reaction depended on the length of the crisis and the way in which the situation would evolve – a matter he said would be further discussed by the European Council.

Energy policy, he added, included two main aspects, namely supply and price. These, Damianos pointed out, were two different issues that should be addressed separately.

He did say, however, that safeguarding supply could in some cases lead to higher energy prices.

Other issues on Monday’s agenda are electricity connectivity, the action plan on affordable energy, and energy security as seen through the Ukrainian and Moldavian crises.