MEP Michalis Hadjipantela highlighted Cyprus’ upgraded institutional image and his legislative focus on securing disaster funding, supporting local business decarbonization, and defending national "red lines" on European reports regarding Turkey.

Driving European Funds and Regional Support

DISY and EPP MEP Michalis Hadjipantela referred to the increased role played by Cyprus during the Presidency of the EU, as well as his own participation in important legislative files of the European Parliament, during a briefing for Cypriot journalists, on Wednesday, in Strasbourg.

Hadjipantela noted that through his participation as rapporteur or shadow rapporteur in a series of files, Cyprus gains greater ability to intervene and claim European resources and policies that directly concern the country. He referred in particular to issues of agriculture, biofuels, the Cohesion Fund, compensation for natural disasters and the RescEU mechanism.

He made reference to the compensation package for last year's fires in Limassol District, noting that a proposal is being promoted to allocate 9.2 million euros to Cyprus, while he submitted an amendment to increase European funding for the affected areas.

Protecting Local Business Competitiveness

At the same time, the Cypriot MEP spoke about the Decarbonisation Fund under development, emphasising that the aim is to support Cypriot businesses that are burdened by the cost of pollutant emissions, so that they remain competitive against businesses from third countries.

Upholding Geopolitical "Red Lines"

Referring to the European Parliament's report on Turkey, Hadjipantela noted that the DISY group did not vote in favour of it, as it included references that characterized Turkey as a strategic partner and supported its participation in European security and defence initiatives, something he described as a "red line" for the Cypriot side.

At the same time, he pointed out that, despite the disagreements, there is an increased understanding of the Cypriot positions by many European colleagues, noting that support for Cyprus on issues concerning Turkey is broader than is often believed.

The DISY and EPP MEP also expressed his belief that the Cypriot Presidency contributed to upgrading the country's image in the European institutions, facilitating cooperation with other political groups and strengthening Cyprus's ability to promote its interests more effectively.

Source: CNA (ΚΥΠΕ)