Europe will never be whole while Cyprus remains split 

 

During her visit to Cyprus, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola was invited to address a special meeting of the Plenary of the House of Representatives. In her speech, President Metsola said that in the European Parliament, Cyprus finds a true friend and unwavering ally, whilst a way forward, while difficult, is possible.

© The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola addressing a Special Meeting of the Plenary of the House of Representatives of Cyprus


Dear friends, 

I am honoured to be here today, in the home of democracy in beautiful Cyprus. I am honoured to be among friends, among Europeans who understand the power of Europe to transform, to heal. 

Cyprus is and will always be close to my heart. Not only because I am, like you and so many Madame Speaker, a proud Mediterranean woman, but because we understand each other. We know the possibility of Europe. We know that we must be united. And we know that we are better, stronger, safer, when we act together. 

Europe is Cyprus, just as Cyprus is Europe. You will find the heart of Europe beating in every town, city and village here.

The history of Cyprus reads as an example of resilience, of how to stare down impossible odds but still manage to come out stronger. Of how to turn the challenges faced by an island in the middle of a volatile sea, placed by nature at the crossroads of civilisations, into a bastion of European values, of democracy, of dynamism, of opportunity. The sacrifices made by your people mean that Cyprus - despite the difficult global winter facing us all - is on firmly the path to growth, prosperity and sustainability. It was not easy, but you did it.    

The history of your people is indeed inspirational, but it is the future of this island nation that inspires more. And if Cypriots can teach the world anything, it is that the future is full of possibility. 

In my first speech as European Parliament President, in January, I spoke about your country, about the struggle you face and the power of Europe to help. It was important for me to do that. I wanted to send a message immediately that Cyprus is not in a forgotten part of the Union, that in the European Parliament you will always find a true friend and unwavering ally and that a way forward, while difficult is not impossible. 

The European Union has been forged out of the painful history of our continent. Seemingly unbreakable walls have been pulled down, mortal enemies became partners, where there was once war, pain and bloodshed is now meetings held in the spirit of cooperation. 

Europe has the power to heal and here in the last divided capital on our continent, Europe must use its experience to bring people together, to ensure one Cyprus under the auspices of the UN plan for peace and in line with our shared European values.  

And let me clear: The only way forward is for there to be a single sovereign, European, State. A bi-communal, bi-zonal federation in line with UN Security Council resolutions. 

I am here to say that Europe will not turn away from Cyprus or our joint ambition at seeing the reunification of this great island. That we are one. That your challenges are our challenges, and that - let me say again - Europe will never be whole while Cyprus remains split.

Because this forced division of an EU Member State, is not a Cyprus question, but a European question and we must respond to it in a European way.

And friends, let me say sabre-rattling that is aimed at disrupting the status quo - as in Famagusta - seriously jeopardises efforts at restoring confidence and finding workable solutions. We must build trust.

There can, and there must be, a win-win outcome here, that creates trust between communities. Of this I am convinced - and all the resources of the European Parliament are at your disposal to make the steps towards progress, towards peace, towards reunification. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

This is at the very core of the mission of the European Parliament and it is this ethos that has guided our response to the invasion of Ukraine. 

We must learn the painful lessons of history, and we must keep supporting Ukraine - politically, with military aid, with logistic support and with the hope and solidarity that only Europe can provide. 

The day Ukraine was granted EU candidate status was a day when Europe moved to give hope to a people under attack. We know what that means to people. We remember that day in 2004 when our countries finally joined and the impact this had on our societies. 

It is time to move forward with Ukraine, with Moldova, with the Western Balkans, Georgia. It is time to move forward with our European project. 

This is a question I get asked often: Is it time? When? Is it possible. The answer is: Our European Union can never be static. We must keep evolving and that is why the European Parliament wants a convention on the future of Europe. We have to ensure that we have the tools to address the concerns facing people. To face the future together. We must be able to adapt. To change.

Dear friends, 

Right now people are very, very worried. Inflation is causing spending power to plummet, electricity prices are skyrocketing, food is so much less secure than it was six months ago. Things we take for granted - driving cars, lighting our homes and running our industries, switching on our air conditioners and heaters will become more difficult. 

And when people look to Europe for answers - for help in dealing with the situation day after day - we must be able to respond with solutions that have a tangible impact on people’s lives. That is what people expect from us and that is what we must be able to deliver.  There are decisions that we can take now. That simply cannot wait. 

We need ‘more Europe’ to address the energy crisis: We can act together to limit the impact: whether it is capping of bills, fixing our pricing systems, or de-coupling the price of electricity from gas - there are things that we can do now, even temporarily to offset the immediate pressure. This differs from country to country, this differs according to realities that each country faces, including this one, this differs in terms of the immediate pressures that are felt and that must be addressed while we implement long term strategies. The gas resources in your waters mean that Cyprus will play an important and strategic role in Europe’s energy solution. 

We need ‘more Europe’ to face our real, shared security challenges: we need to improve our joint defence infrastructure whether we are dealing with Russia’s determination to build a new iron curtain across Europe or whether we are dealing with increased tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. 

We need ‘more Europe’ if we are to find a comprehensive way forward on migration that is fair and humane with those seeking protection, firm with those who are not eligible and strong with those traffickers who exploit some of the most vulnerable on our planet. No State can be left alone, and Cyprus will not be left alone to deal with any influxes. 

We need ‘more Europe’ to tackle climate change and take the tough decisions we need to leave a healthy planet for the next generation. This is particularly important in our Mediterranean where temperatures are rising 20% faster than the global average. 

We need ‘more Europe’ to ensure that democracy, rule of law, equality and liberty become more than just buzz-words used in electoral campaigns or theoretical concepts.  I have seen this all too much at a European level, also in many countries.

We need ‘more Europe’ that allows us to create a real health union that allows us to face-down pandemics and share vaccines and ventilators. 

We need ‘more Europe’ if we are to create jobs, safeguard rights and ensure people have the dignity common to us all.

We need ‘more Europe’, Madam Speaker, if women like you and me are to be more of a rule than an exception. 

But friends ‘More Europe’ means standing up for Europe. To resist the temptation to blame all our woes and frustrations on “Brussels”, to fight back against easy cynicism, dangerous populism and misinformation flooding our news feeds. We have to explain the benefits of Europe - and Cyprus must be at the centre of that conversation.

And as you know too well, More Europe must also mean the understanding that too often a one-size-fits all approach is unworkable with the insularity faced by some of our Member States. 

That is precisely how Europe can be more. 

Friends, I am not here to only tell you about how the European Parliament can help. I am here for a few days in order to listen, to learn, to understand. I want to take back a bit of Cyprus with me to help guide my discussions in Brussels and in Strasbourg.

Because if there is one thing that is true about our Europe it is that geographic realities matter far less than ideas. That it is the size of thinking that will always prevail over land mass. That is what ultimately makes Europe unique. 

The future of Europe can only be decided by us working side by side. My appeal to Cyprus to help lead that future. Together. 

Thank you. 

The President's speech in Greek can be found here