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Cyprus president meets with Danish PM on EU presidency issue

06 July 2012 00:35 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the European Union will include more effective policies for more solidarity, for a better Europe with economic growth and social cohesion, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said here on Thursday, APA reports.

Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt, who is here for the opening ceremony of Cyprus EU presidency, Christofias underlined the close cooperation between Cyprus and Denmark, adding that the experiences of the Danish Presidency hold great significance for Cyprus.

The president added that he was briefed by Schmidt thoroughly on the most important issues and legislative dossiers that the Cyprus Presidency has inherited from the Danish Presidency.

According to the Cyprus EU presidency official website, Christofias and Schmidt also exchanged views on the current negotiations on the Multinational Financial Framework for the period 2014-2020, for which the final phase of negotiations is expected to be reached towards the end of the Cyprus EU Presidency.

"There is need for an EU budget that will support growth, boost competitiveness of the European economy, strengthen small businesses and enhance employment opportunities," said Christofias.

Cyprus took over the EU presidency from July 1 for 6 months. It is the first time for the Mediterranean island to assume EU presidency since it joined the EU on May 1, 2004.

Schmidt, meanwhile, said the priorities of the Cyprus EU presidency were timely and what Europe currently needed.

She expressed her belief that the Cyprus presidency will be a success, noting the personal commitment of President Christofias to this task.

The Denmark prime minister said that although the EU is experiencing a very severe economic crisis, it was possible to get tangible results to the benefit of European citizens as it was possible for the EU institutions to work together to deliver concrete results.