Roundup: Cyprus' MEPs resist multi-speed, centralist EU

Though divided on the possible evolvement of the European Union (EU) after Brexit, the left and center-right members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Cyprus agreed on their rejection to a multi-speed Europe and the shift of more powers to Brussels.

"Any effort by big countries such as Germany, France, Spain and Italy for a multi-speed Europe would not be liked by the European peoples," Takis Hadjigeorgiou, a left-wing AKEL party deputy in the European Parliament said in an interview with Xinhua.

Lefteris Christoforou, an MEP from the ruling right-wing DISY party, also told Xinhua that a multi-speed Europe would be a risky task.

A multi-speed European Union is one of the five alternative options European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker included in his White Paper on how EU should evolve after the Brexit.

This option, under which some states would integrate further faster, has caused concern among the poorer EU countries that it could lead to unwanted division.

"Social and economic cohesion, solidarity and cooperation cannot operate in a multi-speed Europe. Peoples want a unified Europe which will be strong, indivisible, that would safeguard an equal presence of states, governments and citizens, and not a multi-divided Europe," said Christoforou.

Hadjigeorgiou and Christoforou are also in agreement that any effort by the European Commission to assume more powers by deciding on behalf of national governments would hurt the group.

Christoforou said that some support strengthening the bureaucracy in Brussels but other strong voices believe that EU can become more effective with fewer interventions in the national governments and members states.

"That would result in the trust of the European citizens in the European Union being completely lost," warned Hadjigeorgiou.

Hadjigeorgiou said correcting what he called a democracy deficit is a must before the EU attempts to reform.

"No one can seriously disagree with Juncker's call for closer cooperation. But under what terms and who will decide what opportunities and capabilities one-half of EU states would have in such closer cooperation," Hadjigeorgiou said.

He added that as long as the terms or closer cooperation are not defined clearly and democracy is not strengthened, it would be devoid of any meaning or would develop in a cooperation of the few.

Christoforou was more enthusiastic about the prospects of further integration.

"By definition the European Union is synonymous with cooperation...The European Union must proceed decisively in all sectors, but especially in the fields of common foreign policy, defense and security," he advocated.

He said he was confident that the European Union has the capability of achieving closer cooperation, provided all member states and EU institutions work together.

Despite his reservation on the powers of Brussels, Hadjigeorgiou still believes that Cyprus should remain committed to the European perspective.

Citing Cyprus issue with Turkey as one of the reasons, the MEP said Cyprus needs the protection offered by its status as a member of the European Union.

He also admitted that Cyrus is obliged to reform as a member state of the EU.

"Additionally, we have an obligation to reform our state which would be responsible vis-a-vis its citizens, with a sound economy, a health system and a sound education. A state that could upgrade its role in the European Union to some degree," he said.

The Cypriot government has come out in favor of a stronger European Union, which "will correspond both to the expectations of the European citizens and to the international challenges."

In a statement on the White Paper, the government also said that it wanted the EU to be open to the world and would not be looking inwardly.

"We must resist any form of introversion, especially during these critical times for our common European future," the Cypriot government said. Endit