Welcoming the President of the Republic of Cyprus, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola highlighted that this is a pivotal time for Europe and the world, noting that we all know that the next six months will not be easy. She stressed that Europe will remain focused on securing its competitiveness and making things easier for families and businesses, while investing in new realities – especially in the areas of security and defence, and in ensuring that Europe’s voice remains strong on the global level. President Metsola reiterated that the EP will always be on Cyprus’s side towards a single sovereign European state: a bicommunal, bizonal federation in line with the UN resolutions and rooted in our shared values and EU law.

President Christodoulides said the Cyprus Presidency begins at a defining moment for the EU, marked by geopolitical instability, geoeconomic competition, war on the continent, and pressures from the twin digital and environmental transitions, as…