The president of the European Parliament was in Cyprus on the sidelines of the Informal Summit of States in Nicosia. , said that “Cyprus is a beacon of Europe in the region and the Cypriot Presidency is proving to be a crucial bridge with the Middle East”.
Speaking about the developments in the Middle East, he assessed that “the situation remains fragile – we all see it – but it creates conditions for dialogue and must be maintained”. And he went on to say that “we all seek the same thing: a swift and lasting end to the war – one that ensures the rights, dignity and freedom of the Iranian people, that addresses concerns about Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programs and its support for paramilitary groups, and that ends the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this, the Iranian regime continues to arbitrarily execute and detain dissidents – including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, who was re-sentenced in February to seven and a half years in prison. It is important that these people and their families know that Europe has not forgotten them.”
“Freedom of navigation must be restored, and I welcome the broadening of cooperation between partners on this front, which demonstrates Europe’s ability to deal with crises it did not cause but has to manage. And here, once again, it becomes clear how important it is to have a clear strategy for Article 42(7) as part of our European defense and security toolkit,” he said elsewhere.
Regarding energy, Ms. Metsola said that “as far as energy prices are concerned, I have examined the Commission’s proposals and I agree that temporary and targeted relief is required – and even immediately. However, while we act for the present, we must not abandon what works for the future. We don’t need to fix something that isn’t problematic. The gas storage rules we put in place four years ago have stabilized markets, boosted confidence and improved cooperation between Member States. At the same time, diversifying our energy mix and reducing dependence are already paying off. The countries that are most resilient today are those with greater penetration of renewables, stronger nuclear capacity and less reliance on natural gas.”
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Among other things, speaking about the Multiannual Financial Framework, he noted that “last week, the Committee on Budgets of the European Parliament approved with a strong majority our negotiating position for the next long-term budget. It will be voted on in plenary next week. This will allow us to start negotiations with the Council once it has determined its own mandate. So, in April, we will have a clear position and we will be ready.”
Roberta Metzola concluded by stressing that “Europe cannot enter a new era with an outdated framework. The current budget has reached its limits, tested by crises for which it was not designed. We managed to respond, but we now know its limits. We cannot face a changing world with tools of the past. We need a budget that is modern, efficient and ready to respond where and when it matters most.”
