Cyprus’ Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, discussed issues of foreign affairs, during her appearance at the European Parliament (EP) Plenary today, December 12, in Strasbourg. Dr. Marcoullis attended the EP Plenary on behalf of the High Representative (HR) of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, and discussed issues of human rights, the situation in Egypt and the Israeli government’s decision to expand settlements....

Today, December 12, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper 1) endorsed the political agreement with the European Parliament on two proposals for Regulations, the European Venture Capital Funds Regulation – EuVECA and the European Social Entrepreneurship Funds Regulation – EuSEF....

The Cyprus Presidency welcomed today’s European Parliament’s (EP) approval vote of the agreement concerning the 2013 EU budget and the draft amending budget (DAB) n 6 for 2012. The positive EP vote constitutes the final endorsement phase of the agreement, after the Council’s approval on December 6....

The President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Demetris Christofias will participate on 13-14 December in the last meeting of the EU Heads of State and Government during Cyprus’ six-month Presidency of the Council of the EU. The main agenda item at the summit is the next steps for the completion of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)....

Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Ambassador Andreas D. Mavroyiannis called today, December 12, for the swift adoption of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) proposals. Ambassador Mavroyiannis was speaking in the European Parliament’s (EP) Plenary session, during his intervention concerning the preparations of the upcoming December European Council....

Cyprus’ Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, chaired on Tuesday, December 11, the discussions on enlargement issues of the General Affairs Council (GAC), which took place in Brussels. The GAC discussed and adopted Conclusions on EU enlargement and the stabilisation and association process for the Western Balkans....

At today's meeting in Brussels, the Competitiveness Council (Research and Space), under the Presidency of Cyprus Minister of Interior Ms Eleni Mavrou, reached preliminary agreement (partial general approach) on the Specific Programme implementing Horizon 2020 and on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)....

EU Affairs Ministers today, December 11 prepared draft European Council Conclusions for December’s European Council, which will focus on economic policy, the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), EU enlargement and foreign policy. The General Affairs Council (GAC) also took note of the annotated agenda of the February European Council....

The European Union’s Finance Ministers will focus on outstanding issues of the Single Supervisory Mechanism, in their extraordinary meeting which will be held tomorrow, December 12, in Brussels. The ECOFIN Council will be called on to agree a general approach on proposals aimed at establishing a Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) for the oversight of credit institutions, as part of a broader plan to establish a banking union....

The extension of the commitments which stem from the Kyoto Protocol until 2020 was greeted by Cyprus’ Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr. Sofoclis Aletraris as a result which allows the pursuit of a more ambitious international action against climate change....

The Cyprus Presidency welcomed today's positive vote by the European Parliament (EP) Plenary on the unitary patent protection package. Following the successful endorsement of the package by the Competitiveness Council yesterday, December 10, the long road of establishing this important system is coming to an end....

Cyprus’ Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis will appear before the European Parliament (EP) Plenary session on Wednesday, December 12, and will attend the EP’s Foreign Affairs (AFET) Committee meeting on December 13, in Strasbourg, on behalf of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton....

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis participated today, December 10, in the last Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) during the Cyprus Presidency, chaired by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton (HR)....

The Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper I) adopted on Wednesday December 5, a political agreement on a legislative package on consumer alternative dispute resolution (ADR/ODR), which was reached the same day at a trilogue with the European Parliament (EP) and the European Commission (EC)....

Cyprus’ Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis will chair the afternoon session of the last General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting during the Cyprus Presidency, which will take place tomorrow, December 11, in Brussels, and will focus on enlargement issues....

EU Ministers participating at the afternoon sessions of today’s Competiveness Council, in Brussels, endorsed the historic agreement reached by Coreper I on the Unitary Patent Protection Package. The Council, chaired by the Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Mr Neoklis Sylikiotis, also adopted Conclusions on the second wave of priority proposals under the Single Market Act II....

“The European Year 2012 formed a solid basis for policy making and demonstrated a strong political commitment, as well as raising awareness on the importance of promoting active ageing and solidarity between generations through employment, social participation and independent living”, stated the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr....

The Minister of Commerce, Industry & Tourism Mr. Neoklis Sylikiotis and the European Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Günther Oettinger, signed today on behalf of the EU, the new Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the European Union, on the coordination of energy efficiency labelling programmes for office equipment....

The adoption of Conclusions on an update to the European Industrial Policy, the debate on the simplification of state aid rules and the important decisions made regarding customs issues, are among the results of today’s morning session of the Competitiveness Council (Industry), in Brussels....

The annual EU Budget for 2013, the unitary patent, preparations for the European Council meeting taking place on Thursday and Friday and other key issues concerning the EU will be discussed during the European Parliament’s Plenary Session taking place between December 10 and 13 in Strasbourg....