The Secretariat for European Affairs, established as part of Cyprus' Presidency of the Council of the European Union, will continue operating beyond the end of July rather than being dissolved as originally planned, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna has said.
In an interview with European news website Euractiv, Raouna said the Cyprus Presidency Secretariat would remain in place as the country's permanent structure for coordinating European affairs.
External pressure
She also rejected the suggestion that smaller EU member states are more vulnerable to external pressure.
"Never," she replied when asked whether Cyprus was treated as more easily influenced because of its size.
"We are particularly resilient to pressure. That is how our diplomacy has evolved," she said.
Ukraine
Referring to Cyprus' historical and geopolitical circumstances, Raouna said recent developments in Europe had helped other member states better understand the reality of occupation on European territory.
"The past few months have shown everyone in the EU, in a very direct way, what occupation on European soil means," she said.
She also linked Cyprus' own experience to its stance on Ukraine, saying the country had played a particularly active role because it understood the devastating consequences of such situations.
"Cyprus has been particularly active on the issue of Ukraine precisely because it has this unique experience of the devastating consequences of these situations," she said.
Voice of the EU
Reflecting on Cyprus' EU Presidency, Raouna argued that the size of a member state does not determine the scale of its contribution to the European Union.
"The size of a country has never determined the size of its contribution to the European Union," she said, highlighting the extensive mobilisation of the public administration during the Presidency and progress on key legislative files, including EU enlargement and policies relating to Ukraine and Moldova.
Commenting on the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, she said the role strengthens member states' European perspective.
"You become the voice of the 27 member states. You have to listen carefully and gain a better understanding of your European partners' positions," she said.
Addressing countries preparing to assume the rotating Presidency, Raouna's message was clear: "Do not be influenced by the size of your member state."
Source: CNA
