Strasbourg, 04/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament gave a mixed reception to the priorities of Cyprus, which will hold the rotating presidency of the EU in this second half of 2012. The president of the island republic, Demetris Christofias, presented MEPs on Wednesday 4 July with the priorities of his term in office: a more social Europe, orientated towards the well-being of the citizens, and a more efficient one, with the swift adoption of a budget and strengthening of the single market. Although the MEPs appreciate Cyprus' degree of preparation and its commitment to the Community method, its long-standing conflict with Turkey and Nicosia's advantageous tax policy are sticking points with some of them.
Providential Presidency? The new Presidency of the EU has a long list of singularities: this is the first time that Cyprus has been at the head of the EU. The island is divided by a conflict and its president's party, AKEL, the Progressive party of the working people, is descended from the Communist Party. But none of that should be able to alter the resolutely European ambitions of the country. “We are a small country, but one which intends to serve European interests and not our own”, Christofias stated, going on to reiterate his commitment to the Community method, somewhat damaged by his Danish predecessors at the head of the EU. The leader of the EPP welcomed this, convinced that he can count on Christofias in this matter. The same optimism was expressed by the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, who said that at a time when the Union “needs a fight for more social justice, more control of the financial markets, to fight poverty, he is, in his person and his experience, the man we need today to achieve Europe's ambitions”.
Budget, a perilous six months. The programme for the next six months defended by Christofias in the hemicycle is supported by four pillars. At the top of the list: conclude the multi-annual financial framework before the end of the year. Joseph Daul would see that as a “Christmas present”. The leader of the Socialists, Hannes Swoboda (S&D, Austria) expressed his hopes that the compromise would be a good one and pledged his support, as long as it is not a question of a “reduced budget, saying 'do more for growth'”. Two other pillars of the Cypriot Presidency are strengthening the single market and the neighbourhood policy with the southern shore of the Mediterranean.
A Presidency on the Left. The first priority of the Cypriot Presidency is above all to promote social cohesion through employment in the fight against poverty. The only European president to proclaim himself in the Communist vein, Christofias argues in favour of a more social Europe, on the basis of the observation that the “neo-liberal policies, without social and state control, have failed. Because a free economy is one thing, but the impunity of the markets is quite another. We must by no means leave our societies at the mercy of the markets and the interests which inspire them.” Christofias went on to temper his words by joking: “don't worry, communism is not going to harm the European Union (…). I'm not here to lead a revolution, have no fear.” It is a question of “marrying budgetary rigour to social cohesion and growth”. The leader of the Socialist Group welcomed the Cypriot approach and stressed the urgent need for a banking union, which would be controlled and more transparent. However, he regretted the fact that Cyprus is sceptical over the financial transaction tax. This, he argued, is inconsistent with the president's words, as is the fact that it keeps in place one of the lowest corporate taxation rates in the whole of Europe (10%). Rebecca Harms (Germany), co-leader of the Greens, raised the subject and did not hesitate to call on Cyprus to work in favour of fiscal justice, against tax havens and fraud.
Ankara crops up the debates. Nor did the MEP mince words when she tackled the controversial subject of the northern part of the island, which has been occupied by Turkey since 1974, declaring that “it is time to put an end to an anachronistic and unworthy situation”. The MEPs constantly raised the issue, also leading to sharp exchanges between Cypriots and British MEPs. The Liberal Graham Watson (ALDE, UK) opened up the breach by stating that as Cyprus is unable to lead “by its size or strength”, it should instead lead “by example, and use the EU's influence to help to reunify Cyprus (…). You should talk to Turkey (…) and free your island of its prison walls and barbed wire fences.” On this, the Cypriot president defended himself by saying that he was working to unify his country, and that he regrets the fact that Turkey is not reacting, before refocusing the debate on the real “hot potato” of the EU - the budget. Swoboda and other MEPs also commented on Turkey's decision to turn its back on the Presidency during Cyprus' term in office: “I regret Turkey's attitude, if it has decided to boycott it is wrong, we want a peaceful solution.” The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, raised the issue at a press conference, stipulating that Turkey must respect European rules, which state that Cyprus is assuming its right and duty within the EU. (MD/transl.fl)