Apologies have been received from Deputy Michael Murphy, who cannot be with us. I am pleased to welcome the ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Louis Telemachou, and his staff, to the committee. I specifically acknowledge Mr. Alexandros Ghobrial, who is an attaché responsible for the Cypriot Presidency of the European Union, Mr. Alexandros Marios Petrou, the consular officer at the embassy, and Mr. Sotitirs Miltiadis, who is working with the embassy on the Cypriot Presidency. They are all very welcome. The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the Cypriot Presidency, which began on 1 January and will continue until we take over on 1 July. We wanted to meet the ambassador to look at what the priorities are, how he sees the Presidency progressing over the next six months and the priorities that Cyprus will have for that Presidency, because those priorities will have a bearing on our priorities as we develop them and release them shortly before taking over the Presidency, at a time when there is great difficulty in the world, great uncertainty and great pressures, particularly on the European Union operating within the global community. These are challenges that our Cypriot colleagues will have to deal with during their Presidency.

I note there is a common theme to the Cypriot priorities of the European Presidency, specifically European autonomy, the idea that we will be able to stand on our two feet and our ability as a Union and trading bloc to act confidently in defending core values, such as the rule of law, which is an important part of the work of this committee, democracy, equality, freedom, human rights and so on. They are values on which the European Union is founded and which we absolutely need to defend at this stage. The issue of strategic autonomy is one that this committee has added to its work programme. I am sure it will feature in one form or another in the priorities for the Irish Presidency. We had the meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs, COSAC, in Nicosia last week. It seems like a long time since we were there. That was a really positive meeting, where the chairs of the European Union's committees of various member states and observer states, such as the accession states, came together. We had a very successful meeting. It was an enjoyable time in Nicosia. We look forward to returning to Nicosia in March for the plenary session of COSAC. We will have as big a delegation as we can from this committee going to Nicosia then. We are looking forward to that.

My clerk reminds me that we have to remind witnesses of legal bits and the privilege notice that we are obliged to give, though I suspect the witnesses are aware of it anyway. They are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks, and it is imperative that they comply with such a direction. Members are equally reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses of the Oireachtas or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Senator O'Loughlin is online but she will be aware of the constitutional requirement that she needs to be physically present in Leinster House to participate in the meeting, and given that she was in the room a moment ago, I know that she is. If members who are online are not physically present, they will not be permitted to participate. These are things I suspect the witnesses already knew, but we are obliged to read them out.

I now invite Mr. Telemachou to make his opening statement.

I thank the Cathaoirleach and distinguished members of the committee for their kind invitation to present the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Cyprus assumes the Presidency at a time of profound geopolitical uncertainty and accelerating global change, fully conscious of the responsibilities that come with being the European Union’s south-easternmost member state. Europe is facing a convergence of challenges: war on our Continent, instability in our neighbourhood, pressures on our democratic systems, and structural economic and social transformations driven by the green and digital transitions. Yet, as history has shown, the European Union has always emerged stronger when it has responded to crisis with unity, purpose and resolve.

Against this backdrop, the overarching theme of the Cyprus Presidency is European autonomy. It is autonomy understood not as isolation, but as the capacity of the Union to act with confidence, credibility and responsibility, in line with its values and interests and in full respect of international law and multilateralism. The Cyprus Presidency will act as a responsible and honest broker, in close co-operation with the European Parliament and the European Commission, with the aim of transforming today's challenges into opportunities and delivering tangible results for European citizens.

Our priorities are structured around four interlinked pillars. The first is autonomy through security, defence readiness and preparedness. A more autonomous Europe must be a more secure Europe. Security today is multidimensional and interconnected, encompassing defence, energy, migration, cyber threats, hybrid attacks and societal resilience. The ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, marked by illegal invasion and occupation, underlines the need for an unequivocal commitment to international law and the rules-based order. The Cyprus Presidency's support for Ukraine - political, economic, humanitarian, energy-related and military - will remain unwavering, alongside continued efforts towards a just and lasting peace that fully respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Regarding Greenland, Cyprus understands the situation better than any other member state. We are steadfast in our support of international law and the principles of the UN Charter. In this context, we fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, including of course Denmark, which is our close partner. As Council President, we convened an extraordinary COREPER meeting on Sunday evening, where all member states expressed their support for this fundamental principle. EU member states are united in their respect for international law, as well as in their support for and solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.

The Presidency will prioritise strengthening the Union’s defence readiness and strategic autonomy, including through the swift implementation of the White Paper on the future of European defence and the readiness roadmap 2030. In this context, Cyprus, while not a member of NATO nor a participant in the partnership for peace, strongly supports enhanced EU-NATO co-operation as a cornerstone of European security, alongside the continued strengthening of transatlantic relations. As we have seen in recent days, the latter can present challenges for all of us.

Maritime security is an integral component of European security and strategic autonomy. As an island and maritime member state at the EU’s south-eastern flank, Cyprus attaches particular importance to safeguarding freedom of navigation, protecting critical maritime infrastructure and ensuring the security of vital sea lines of communication. Security also extends to effective migration management, combating organised crime and terrorism and strengthening democratic resilience. The Presidency will focus on the full implementation of the pact on migration and asylum, the ProtectEU strategy and initiatives to counter disinformation, foreign interference and threats to media freedom, particularly in the digital sphere and with a special focus on protecting children and young people online.

Second, there is autonomy through competitiveness. Only a competitive Union can sustain strategic autonomy. Europe’s competitiveness is the foundation of its resilience, prosperity and global influence. The Cyprus Presidency will work to reduce regulatory burdens, advance regulatory simplification through the omnibus proposals and strengthen the Single Market by dismantling unjustified barriers and fostering innovation. Energy security and affordability will be a key focus, including investment in grid infrastructure, interconnections and clean technologies. Strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity, will also be central to ensuring that Europe can shape its own digital future. Recognising water resilience as a growing dimension of security and competitiveness, the Presidency will also support the implementation of the European water resilience strategy, ensuring sustainable access to clean and affordable water across the Union. The Presidency will also advance efforts to deepen capital markets and the savings and investment union, recognising that financial autonomy is essential for mobilising private investment and financing Europe’s long-term strategic objectives.

Third, we want an open Union that is open to the world, yet is autonomous. Autonomy does not mean turning inward. It means engaging globally from a position of unity and strength. Cyprus, as a bridge between Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will work to revitalise the Union’s engagement with its southern neighbourhood and the Gulf, including through the new pact for the Mediterranean and enhanced co-operation with regional organisations. The Presidency will support an open, rules-based multilateral trading system, strengthen the EU’s network of trade agreements and promote diversification of partnerships to reduce strategic dependencies. Enlargement will remain a strategic priority, particularly for Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans, pursued through a credible, merit-based process grounded in European values.

Finally, the fourth point is about an autonomous Union of values that leaves no one behind. The strength of European autonomy lies in its people. The Cyprus Presidency will work to strengthen the rule of law, social cohesion and equal opportunities across the Union. Particular attention will be given to affordable housing, fully respecting the Irish and member states' competences, the fight against poverty, child protection through the European child guarantee and the full implementation of the European pillar of social rights, including disability rights. Investing in skills, education and lifelong learning will be essential to ensuring that citizens can adapt to the green and digital transitions. The Presidency will also advance work towards a stronger European health union and the critical medicines Act. Particular attention will be devoted to mental health, recognising its importance for societal resilience, social cohesion and the well-being of the younger generation.

Finally, strategic autonomy requires adequate financing. The Cyprus Presidency will work constructively to advance negotiations on the multi-annual financial framework for 2028 to 2034, aiming to deliver a mature and balanced negotiating framework to the next Irish Presidency that equips the Union to meet future challenges and accommodate future enlargements.

We live in uncertain times, but uncertainty must not lead to hesitation. It must lead to determination. The Cyprus Presidency is fully committed to steering the Union towards greater autonomy, resilience and unity - acting efficiently, transparently and always in the European interest while preparing the Union as effectively as possible for a smooth and strong handover to the incoming Irish Presidency.

I thank the members of the committee for their attention and look forward to our discussion.

I thank the ambassador. Before we go to members, I recognise the presence of H.E. Mr. Nicola Faganello as well, the Italian ambassador, who joins us in the Public Gallery. He is very welcome.

Members will have five minutes each for questions and answers.

The ambassador is very welcome. Ireland and Cyprus have a lot of commonality. We are small countries. We are both partitioned. However, we are very confident in our place in Europe and the world. For some background to today's meeting, we have just come out of a meeting where we discussed the whole issue of international developments. The common theme among most of the speakers today was that we are living in an increasingly chaotic and divided world. This meeting is a really important chance to discuss the Cypriot Presidency, but one of the themes that came out of the discussion earlier and one of the issues I raised was that, increasingly, countries that try to stand in the way of war and genocide are excluded or even punished - some are even branded terrorist sympathisers - for trying to prevent war and the displacement of refugees and civilians, with all of the challenges that brings for Europe and the rest of the world.

Mr. Telemachou highlighted migration as an issue. Would he agree that our approach should be one of trying to prevent wars rather than supporting them? For the Cypriot Presidency, the Irish Presidency and the ones that follow, that should be the approach of Europe and European countries on this. We are seeing the idea that people would support wars in other countries and the displacement of innocent people on our own Continent but we are also seeing it in Africa and around the world. We can see the impact that has on our own countries. Does the ambassador see that as an important step for the Cypriot Presidency and does he believe that should be the way forward for Europe and countries like ours?

I thank Deputy Crowe. His question relates to whether the European Union should focus on preventing wars rather than encouraging atrocities. Of course, the answer is absolutely "Yes", but the best way to prevent wars is to prepare your defence. That is why the Cyprus Presidency is putting the first emphasis on autonomy and preparation for defence readiness and preparedness.

There is an unequivocal commitment from the Presidency and the EU to international law and the rules-based order. I agree with the Deputy about preventing wars within our Continent. The best way to do that is through security and increasing defence readiness and preparedness.

Part of the challenge for many countries involved in conflict resolution is they have been isolated or not encouraged. More and more countries, particularly in Europe, need to take up that role. Norway, for instance. The Irish peace process would not have happened without outside influence. The fact that there are so many conflicts around the world means there is a need for that voice. Increasingly, Europe is stepping back from that. We are becoming fortress Europe and are much more insular in our approach. The way to a peaceful world is being involved and stepping in to resolve conflicts that can be resolved.

Does the ambassador want to say anything further?

I took note of the point made by the member. I will take off my hat as ambassador of the country that has the Presidency and put on my national cap. I sincerely thank Ireland on behalf of my country for all the years - since 1964 - that it has participated in UNFICYP. It is greatly appreciated. There would not be a single Cypriot citizen who does not know about and appreciate that. I am thankful from the bottom of my heart, as are my compatriots, for what Ireland has done for peace in my country. Sorry, I will put back on my hat as ambassador of the Presidency.

Thank you very much. I will go to Deputy Ó Murchú.

Tá fáilte roimh go léir. It is great to see the ambassador. Like Deputy Crowe, I have just come from a meeting at which international affairs were discussed. It is hard to believe what a speech on international affairs deals with these days. Donald Trump has stated that he just wants a piece of ice for world protection. Unfortunately, nobody believes him. It is a dangerous world. National sovereignty is of absolute importance. The ambassador spoke about international law and the rules-based system being moved away from. We have multiple conflicts, even within Europe.

I will follow on from what Deputy Crowe said. The ambassador spoke of the idea of European autonomy. Some of that autonomy is on the basis of what was accepted previously, even within the relationship from a business point of view. NATO countries saw the world in a particular way we might have differed from, but there was reliance on America. None of that can be relied on at this point. There is the question of how we deal with a US President who is willing to state he is looking for European territory to fulfil his idea of world protection. The Cypriot Presidency will determine how we follow that road in order to secure the necessary European and strategic autonomy while maintaining competitiveness in the world we face.

On Palestine, the European Union has been weaker than should have been the case regarding the genocide that was taking place and the, at best, imperfect peace currently in place. This showed up certain double standards that are not helpful. In this mad world, the European Union is a successful peace project but it does not always do itself a good service.

The ambassador's island is, like ours, partitioned. Where does he see the resolution of the Cypriot issue, particularly the possibility of a bi-communal, bi-zonal solution? Much work has been done but some of this has remained in mothballs for a long time.

I thank the Deputy for his questions and kind words. I will start with the Palestinian question and the double standards. We have been saying all along that in order to help upgrade the status of the European Union morally, we have to persuade people that there are the same standards for everybody. The European Union has been accused of double standards. The Cypriot Presidency will facilitate the discussions but after the Lisbon treaty the Foreign Affairs Council relies on the external action service so the role of the Presidency is limited as regards a common position on the Palestinian issue. As a national position, we have recognised the State of Palestine since 1988. We have established diplomatic relations at the level of ambassadors, opening embassies since 2012. We are willing to facilitate a common position within the EU on Palestine but this goes to the competences of the external action service and High Representative and Vice President Kallas.

In relation to European territory, I made it very clear in my first statement that we fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, including of course Denmark. We are steadfast in our support for international law and the principles of the UN Charter. It is not acceptable to us. We will facilitate all negotiations to have a very strong common position. Tomorrow, we have an extraordinary summit of our leaders. I hope the Cypriot Presidency will help our institutional presidencies as well - President Costa - in having a common position.

The Deputy's final question was on the resolution of the Cyprus problem. I thank him for that. It is a problem of somebody taking somebody else's territory, of invasion and of occupation. It will be solved by reunifying the island based on what the UN Charter has said, which is a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. Our President has taken many initiatives on that. We are in the happy position to say that, with new leadership on the Turkish Cypriot side, we have made some progress at the negotiating table. At least there is some common ground, and we do not go to the negotiations with a two-state solution. There is some common ground, in a complicated way, about resolving the Cyprus problem with reunification into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

I thank the ambassador and his colleagues for being with us. We really appreciate it. It has been interesting to get the ambassador's insight into Cyprus hosting the Council Presidency. It has already been stated, but I note the ongoing co-operation and collaboration between his country and ours, particularly this year as our presidential terms come back to back and our priorities are shared. It is a turbulent time within the EU and around the world. That is why the main theme of the Cypriot Presidency, namely remaining an autonomous Union while being open to the world, is appropriate at the moment. The ambassador also mentioned the ongoing MFF negotiations.

In terms of the Presidency, it is something we will be focusing on from an Irish perspective when it comes to our turn in July. How does His Excellency hope to see the MFF negotiations develop during Cyprus's term? I will ask my questions first and then His Excellency can respond for the rest of the time.

Yes, I am writing them down.

As I said, the themes set out by both Cyprus and His Excellency in his presentation are incredibly ambitious. How does Cyprus plan to strengthen EU strategic autonomy and get the balance right in the context of security-driven migration policies while taking into account the need to enhance competitiveness through digitalisation and regulatory simplification? Politicians at national and European levels speak a lot about regulatory simplification and the advancement of digitalisation. How does the ambassador see that coming to fruition? What kind of goals does Cyprus have on how to deliver it during its term? It is also important to note that we remain committed to enlargement. It remains a strategic priority for us. Cyprus has set out about advancing connectivity with global partners and ensuring that the EU remains open to the world. How could this impact on the EU's geopolitical influence and the success of the enlargement process and does the ambassador see advances in the enlargement process during the Cypriot Presidency?

It is interesting that the ambassador spoke about social cohesion. This is mentioned a lot without anyone ever getting to the root of an actual definition of it. However, he mentioned several things, like mental health for children and youth, vulnerable groups, leaving nobody behind and affordable housing. The latter is an facing the majority of EU member states at the moment. It is certainly a massive issue here in Ireland. Just before Christmas, the Commission published the first ever EU plan to boost affordable housing across Europe. In the context of those elements, what are the main challenges that the EU is facing in terms of social cohesion, particularly when it comes to vulnerable groups and affordable housing delivery?

I will start with social cohesion. Housing is extremely important, it seems, for the people of all countries of the European Union. The problem with housing is that we have to be very careful in our Presidency to navigate what we can do all together, as the European Union, and what are the national competences, and also subsidiarity. Subsidiarity is something that the Presidency is fully aware of and supports. A lot of the powers relating to housing not only lie with national governments but also with local authorities. We know the aim, which is to help people and solve the housing problem. The role of the Presidency is to navigate matters in such a way that subsidiarity and the competencies of national parliaments and governments are not threatened. This is very important from the beginning. We will be hosting the second-ever housing ministerial meeting. We have been talking with the future Irish Presidency - and Ireland will also have one - so we will be co-operating on that. The challenge there is that the ideas that will come across will not be against the provisions of the competences of the treaties. So, yes, our Presidency will help. I have a list here of actions that we will take and that will leave nobody behind. We will advance the agenda by focusing on skills for all, empowering teachers and reinforcing vocational and higher education in line with the European education area. This is a big priority.

Priority will also be given to learning mobility, citizenship education and an inclusive, learning-centered approach that promotes lifelong learning and social inclusion. One of the problems that exists in the population of the European Union is that people of a certain age are no longer able to find work because they lack skills. That is why we are focusing very much on not leaving anybody behind and ensuring that, through these initiatives, people will be able to pursue lifelong learning and further skills.

Enlargement is also an intergovernmental procedure. Everything has been done in unanimity. Cyprus's Presidency will try to navigate and bring about common positions as far as possible. We will prioritise progress on negotiating chapters, particularly for Ukraine, Moldova, and the western Balkans. The committee will be aware that there is a veto from one member state on proceeding in respect o the Ukrainian situation. We will try to engage with that member state to see if there is any room to find a way forward and unblock the situation. However, I cannot stress enough that this is an intergovernmental process. At the same time, we recognise that enlargement must be accompanied by effective integration tools and capacity-building measures to ensure that new member states are fully prepared to participate responsibly in the Union's policies and institutions.

As for competitiveness and autonomy, we have to look at defence but, at the same time, we should not to give up on our competitiveness. I could not agree more with the Senator on that. The only thing I can say is that enhancing the EU's competitiveness is essential if we are to sustain economic growth, create jobs and strengthen its place in the global economy. As I said, regulatory simplification is not about lowering standards. It is about eliminating unnecessary burdens that impede innovation, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of our economies, especially small countries like Cyprus and Ireland.

The Presidency will prioritise the implementation of the omnibus legislative package and will actively engage with the European Parliament and Commission to accelerate efforts to streamline regulation across key factors. We will also support initiatives to facilitate access to finance for our small and medium-sized enterprises, foster digitalisation and boost investment in research and innovation. One of the problems that small businesses have in Europe is access to capital for growth. The Presidency is going to move further towards the banking union and the capital union.

We can come back to that if there are any further remarks. Next is Deputy Butterly.

I welcome the ambassador and his colleagues. I thank them for taking the time to join us. I was very heartened by the commitment in the opening statement to the effect that the strength of European autonomy lies in its people. I was also heartened by Cyprus's commitment to work to strengthen not just the rule of law and social cohesion but also, in particular child protection in the context of the European child guarantee. In the past couple of weeks, the media here, like the media across the world, has been preoccupied with matters relating to that horrible AI tool, Grok. In my opinion, it should be called "Grimy Grot" because it is just pure filth. I am very curious to hear about the Cypriot response to that and about how Cyprus is dealing with the onslaught of social media and its influence on its young people. Young people are the solution to many of our problems. How we communicate with them over the coming months and years is really going to be important. We can defend ourselves to the teeth, but if we are not clear and coherent in our narrative and do not bring young people with us, I fear that, perhaps, we might lose them along the way.

The ambassador commented on defence. Rightly, he focused on maritime security and migration management.

These are natural, but I do not see anything about cybersecurity. I would like to hear some of his comments in relation to that. It is a very real threat to our security in Ireland, in Europe and in Cyprus.

If I may, I forgot to answer the last question about the MFF. It is interesting for the minutes of this committee to answer it. On the MFF, we will try by June to put down the first agreed numbers so that the Irish Presidency can take over for the finalisation.

I thank Deputy Butterly for her questions. First, I will talk about youth and how important it is for us. We have four ways to protect our children. This is done through the use of the Internet and digitalisation. We have to have a union of skills. Emphasis will be placed on citizenship, education, inclusion, lifelong learning and strengthening competitiveness of the digital and green transition. We will also advance discussion on teachers supporting professional development, career attractiveness and empowering teachers for the future. We will thus propose the adoption of Council conclusions on teachers in the area of artificial intelligence. The whole-of-institution approach for education for sustainable development will also advance. Vocational education and training will focus on attractiveness and integrating the new technologies, especially AI.

We are also going to promote youth-friendly policy design and implementation policies. We will support the view of the European youth strategy by presenting a resolution on the 2025-27 work plan. We will have the outcomes on the 11 EU youth dialogue cycle. Of course, within these, we will very much touch on what the Deputy said about the danger of AI and what she has mentioned and we have all witnessed here - the onslaught.

The Deputy asked about maritime security and defence. It is my omission. We have a whole chapter on cybersecurity. It is my omission. I can find it and read it out. It was my omission - I did not mention it. We will prioritise boosting EU cyber-resilience with special attention to safeguarding critical infrastructure, both essential and important entities in ensuring the production of key digital services. The Presidency tends to advance negotiation under the vision of the cybersecurity Act with the objective of reinforcing the EU cybersecurity framework and modernising ENISA's mandate. The Presidency will work to deepen co-operation and strengthen capacities among member states and relevant stakeholders, particularly through networks and EU-CyCLONe, by enhancing the sharing of experience and best practice. Because I had limited time, I could not mention cyber, but it is a big part of our Presidency priorities.

I thank the ambassador. I call Deputy Gogarty, followed by Deputy O'Donoghue.

The ambassador is very welcome. I apologise for having to step out. I was actually trying to get a short slot on international affairs. I took the opportunity to mention Greenland, but I also mentioned areas in the Middle East, such as Iran and Palestine. In that context, I will start with the issue the ambassador mentioned about the global engagement and enlargement, particularly the relationship with the southern neighbourhood and the Gulf region. Have there been many meetings during the Presidency so far or any scheduled with the Gulf states, for example? Have there been meetings with Israel? Could the ambassador elaborate briefly because I have a few other questions? What is Cyprus' historical relationship with Israel? I am not familiar with it at all.

I thank the Deputy. Regarding the Gulf states, as I said, we have to know our institutional role of the Presidency. Our priority is to have an engaged dialogue with the Gulf states. Already, we had representation at the opening of the Cyprus Presidency in Nicosia at ministerial level from all six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. We are planning to invite them to have a special session of the Gulf Cooperation Council in the EU, with co-operation and co-ordination with the European External Action Service. Our President has already announced that during the summit, which is going to be in April, the focus will be on the Middle East and the Gulf region. We will invite the leaders of these countries.

On the question of Cyprus's historical relations with Israel, I can take off my Presidency cap and talk to the Deputy with my national cap, if it is acceptable to the Cathaoirleach. Historically, there was not a Jewish population in Cyprus. The reason for that is because it is very close to the holy lands for Christians and Jewish populations. We did not have historically a Jewish population on the island. Historically, since we never had a Jewish population on the island until after the Second World War, there were no incidents of antisemitism, not because we were better than anybody else, but there was nobody to target. Antisemitism was something completely unknown to the population of Cyprus. Then, on the way from the Holocaust to the creation of the State of Israel, the British Government at the time would not allow Holocaust survivors to land in the lands that are now Israel and at the time was British. Thousands of them stayed in Cyprus on their way to the formation of the State of Israel. That was the first connection between the Cyprus population, the Cypriot people, and the Jewish population. The relationship was extremely positive. They bonded and made friendships. This is the historical background for the Deputy to understand how this started.

With the creation of the State of Israel and the independence of the Republic of Cyprus, at the time, the foreign minister was Golda Meir. Our first President was Archbishop Makarios III. It was complicated because of our special relationship that we had with the Arab world. As time went by, today our relationship with the State of Israel is important for Cyprus for economic reasons. I think it is our biggest trading partner. It is now becoming the number one tourist market for us. There is a lot of political co-operation.

Having said that, we never shied away from telling it about the absolute importance of the two-state solution for us, but also about the illegality of the illegal settlements in the West Bank. Many times, we have tried to join the voice of others about the humanitarian catastrophe and the killings in Gaza. In a nutshell, this is the relationship between Cyprus and Israel. It was complicated at the beginning of the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, becoming normal later after the first President was gone, and then creating a strong link with the State of Israel, while meanwhile never abandoning the Palestinian question and the Palestinian people, and recognising the Palestinian State since 1988. As I said in my statement, since 2012 we have an exchange of ambassadors and embassies.

The Embassy of the State of Palestine has existed in Nicosia since 2012.

I thank Mr. Telemachou for his response. I will ask further questions in the second round. The reason I asked that question is that Ireland has been very trenchant in its criticism of the Israeli Government's actions in Gaza and the West Bank but sometimes countries that are much closer to Israel and that would be considered friends of Israel have equal weight or more weight in other areas. That is what I was trying to get at. Cyprus has influence through its Presidency but it is seen very positively in Israel.

I would agree.

I thank the witnesses for coming in to address us. I really appreciate it. I have just two questions. The EU is a key driver of audiovisual regulation and policy across its member states. It is also a key funder of pan-European productions through Creative Europe MEDIA. The independent film production sector relies on the bedrock of the regulations and funding provided by the EU. The Cypriot Presidency has identified as its cultural priorities that the Council will work on: the cultural compass; the AgoraEU proposal under the new MFF; the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act; and related issues under the audiovisual media services directive. Will Mr. Telemachou expand on that? How will the Cypriot Presidency focus on these issues? What kind of work does Cyprus intend to do to help that sector?

I am really heartened to hear that the savings and investment union is to be a plank of the Cypriot Presidency. It is critical to increased scalability and competitiveness in the EU. Strategic autonomy is also on the agenda. Given everything that is going on at the moment, there is a possibility that the EU treaties, as they currently are, may not be sufficient to push back against an unreliable partner across the Atlantic. Would the Cypriot Presidency support facilitating the altering of the EU treaties to reform the way the institutions operate should they be found insufficient to meet the challenges facing us over the next 12 months?

I will start with the last question as to whether we would facilitate changing the treaties or see it as necessary to do so. It is an extremely complicated procedure. It is not very complicated for Cyprus because we do not need a referendum or a two-thirds majority, as many countries do. Nationally, it is easier for us but we are very much aware that changing the treaties is very complicated for some member states. The Deputy asked whether we would facilitate such changes. We will ensure to expand the current treaties as much as possible to avoid a need to change the treaties. We are very aware that, for example, Ireland requires a referendum to change the treaties. We know how complicated that is. The Presidency will examine ways to expand the treaties as much as possible to answer the questions that might otherwise be answered through treaty changes.

On the other question, which was about culture, the Cypriot Presidency will take over the Council's work on the cultural compass, the AgoraEU proposal under the new MFF and the forthcoming promulgation and revision of the European capitals of culture decision. Priorities will include strengthening cultural governance, safeguarding cultural heritage and addressing disinformation and ethics in the digital society. The formal ministerial meeting will focus on cultural rights and combating the illicit trafficking of cultural goods. With regard to the film industry, in the audiovisual and media area, the Presidency will address the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act, EMFA, and related issues under the audiovisual media services directive including trustworthy information sources and service provenance. Of course, we will make sure that the MFF will include provisions for the independent film industry in Europe.

I thank Mr. Telemachou. I appreciate that the first question, which was on changing the treaties, is treacherously complex.

I thank the ambassador and his team for being here with us and for transacting the meeting in English. It is something we sometimes take for granted but I appreciate the ambassador being able to do that. I am sure some material has been covered but I had to speak in our own Chamber. We are having statements on international affairs and developments today, which is pretty timely. I will focus on one aspect of Cyprus's Presidency. I refer to maritime security, which chimes with some concerns we have in Ireland. In his opening statement, Mr. Telemachou says:

As an island and maritime member state at the EU’s south-eastern flank, Cyprus attaches particular importance to safeguarding freedom of navigation, protecting critical maritime infrastructure and ensuring the security of vital sea lines of communication.

We have also been told that the Cypriot Presidency will actively advance the implementation of the EU maritime security strategy and so forth. If it was Ireland, we could also add cybersecurity and undersea cables. I am wondering what Cyprus might hand over to us in this space when we take up our Presidency. How does Cyprus partner with its partners in securing that maritime space?

That is a very prominent question that is very relevant to both Ireland and Cyprus. I know Ireland is in the process of finalising its own national maritime security strategy. There were some attempts to engage bilaterally on finalising that strategy because we share some experiences. Maritime security is very important for island countries but also for countries that engage in trade. We have to make sure that maritime trading lines are safe. We have a proper purely maritime policy but, because there are now new challenges, including the challenge of cybercrime, we have to upgrade the European maritime security strategy. Cyprus is going to facilitate that priority.

I am sorry to cut across the ambassador. I do not mean to be rude. Does Cyprus patrol its own seas, the seas around its coastline, or do European Union countries assist in that?

No, we do. As the Deputy might know, for many years, we had a complicated relationship with the UK. Under the treaty of establishment, one of the treaties that created the Republic of Cyprus, search and rescue operations were carried out by the British Government through the sovereign British bases that are stationed on the island. This has long been history. We now have our own naval fleet. We try to-----

How many naval vessels does Cyprus have?

I do not know. Of course, it is not at the level of a country like the UK but we no longer depend on the UK as we used to. It was in the early nineties that we started developing this capability. We thank the UK for the support it gave us for all those years at the beginning of the republic and for carrying out search and rescue operations and patrols for us. However, we now have our own resources.

Cyprus is entirely independent in terms of-----

Of course, we always need help and we co-ordinate but it is now many years since we took over what we had asked the UK Government to provide as regards search and rescue and-----

Do any other European Union countries collaborate with Cyprus?

Yes, we collaborate. The number one country we collaborate with is France through the French navy. We also collaborate with the Greek navy. The National Guard of Cyprus and the navy of the Republic of Cyprus have their own competence.

Of course, we are always building more and more through the security action for Europe, SAFE, instrument. We have already deposited our requirements. We are going to buy more and more equipment - I have not seen exactly what - for our shores. We are responsible for the protection of our exclusive economic zone and our search and rescue operations, but in times of need, of course, we always accept help from neighbouring countries. The most important thing, answering the Deputy's questions, is that we have not given this responsibility to another member state or country like we used to with the UK in the first decades of our independence. We have our own resources.

The ambassador and his team are very welcome. Cyprus is taking on the Presidency at a very challenging time on a geopolitical level. I know there will be elections in Cyprus quite soon as well so it is difficult for the Cypriot Government to be able to balance everything.

I thank Mr. Telemachou for his detailed presentation. It is very good to hear that access to capital is going to be one of the priorities he is talking about. While he makes the point that Ireland will be at the final point in regard to the MFF, certainly the work that is happening now is every bit as important. We are relying a lot on Cyprus, particularly in regard to the negotiations around the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, which is very important to the Irish people.

In regard to some of the questions I might put to Mr. Telemachou, I know he is talking about autonomy through security and defence readiness and he has outlined some of the areas but I wonder if there are any specific initiatives that Cyprus will push to strengthen EU defence co-operation among all of the 27 countries during the Presidency?

Yes, I thank the Senator. I will just find the details. First, Europe has developed a lot in regard to defence. Remember that there was a time when it was impossible to have a ministerial council on defence, and now we even have a defence Commissioner. Europe has developed a lot from earlier times. Yes, the specific initiatives on migration would refer to the Union's capability to respond to crises, protect its citizens and uphold international law. We do not believe that we should impose a common defence policy that would override national positions. Strategic autonomy means that Europe has the tools, the industrial base, the interoperability and the resilience to act when security is at stake, complementing existing alliances where appropriate and desired by member states. When I say "complementing existing alliances", we notably say that neither Ireland nor Cyprus are members of NATO.

Okay. I thank Mr. Telemachou for that. He mentioned migration there. My first question was not really in regard to migration but to exterior factors and our defence. On migration, Cyprus obviously has a front-line position in regard to it. Are there any particular approaches to migration management that Cyprus might put forward during the Presidency?

Yes. By the way, as we speak, we have the information council on migration in Cyprus. The first thing on migration I have to say is that we will help the implementation in June, when it comes into force, of the pact on migration and asylum in a balanced and human way. Migration policy must achieve three core and important objectives: securing and managing external borders; solidarity with member states facing disproportionate pressures; and respect for the fundamental rights enshrined in EU law.

One of the things we will try to do - it is a very long debate but we have some positive results - is to try to regulate the list of safe countries for migration. For example, that will help establish a more controlled legal migration and avoid illegal migration. If you name a country that is safe, then these people will not be eligible to come to our countries and ask for asylum. The Danish Presidency was very good on that and it has progressed it but now, in the Cypriot Presidency, the next step is to make sure we have more countries on this safe list of countries for migration. This will help regularise migration and help the people really in need of international protection to come here and ask for asylum. This does not mean we are not helping the people who are not in real need of international protection but who are so-called economic migrants and are not regulated to come to our countries.

I also know that Ireland has exceptions from the migration pact because of its treaty reservations. I hope it will be able to engage with the rest of the European Union as much as possible and, of course, it is the members' sovereign right and that of the Irish Parliament to engage as much as possible on the migration pact.

I welcome the ambassador and his team. I am sorry I was not able to be here. I was speaking on defamation matters in the Seanad. I wanted to ask a question about one issue that is a major emerging concern to many people across the world, which is the impact of social media on children and the need to combat the negative impacts of online pornography on society and so on. As the ambassador will be aware, there are various EU-level and member state-level regulatory approaches being taken. I seem to recall that the French Government, in seeking to deal with age verification and the need for it in relation to the availability of pornography online, ran up against an intrajurisdictional problem where, I think, one of the companies it was dealing with was based in Cyprus. As I understand it, the way the European Union laws work in these areas, or some of them anyway, is that we depend on the member state where a particular company has its headquarters to do the regulation necessary for the protection of the entire bloc. That would certainly apply with all the major platforms that have their EU headquarters in Ireland. The question I wanted to ask the ambassador is whether this is an issue that is of concern to the Cypriot Government. Does it feature anywhere in regard to the priorities for its Presidency and are there steps it is taking, or that the ambassador believes his Government intends or needs to take, in order to strengthen the ability of European Union member states to protect their children from the availability of pornography online? I realise pornography is just one of many challenges online but I am taking that one specifically.

I read today that in the agenda of the formal Justice and Home Affairs, JHA, Council, which is coming to Cyprus, there is a particular chapter on exactly what the Senator has mentioned - the protection of our youth from online abuse.

As we speak, this important issue in all our societies is one of the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency and today, in the formal joint meeting in Lefkosia, ways of dealing with it are being discussed.

We also must have in mind that we have to find ways to stay within the treaties. One of the most complicated questions about pornography and the protection of children is whether the treaties allow us to have age verification procedures in all member states and whether this is in the treaties. This is what our experts are working hard on, to navigate the existing treaties to find ways to establish policies and regulations at a European level which we have in common. For example, the Senator will be aware that some member states have said some social media will not be allowed from now on. It is complicated to make it pan-European because of restrictions in the treaties, but the Presidency will guide and take initiatives to find ways, if not to make regulations, which is the first idea, but at least to find best practices to address this serious issue the Senator mentioned.

If there was any information his Excellency can supply me with about the Cypriot Government's approach to regulation within its jurisdiction, given the intrajurisdictional effect that might have, as it relates to its priorities, I would be interested in getting it, as other members of the committee might be.

I will do my best.

All members have had an opportunity now. We can go to a second round. Deputy Gogarty indicated that he wanted to come back in.

Yes. I ask the ambassador to bear with me for a second. I will talk about another aspect of the Cypriot Government's priorities, the EU budget 2028 to 2034. The European Union borrowed a lot after the Covid-19 pandemic for a number of programmes. This committee discussed the matter recently. There are huge pressures in supporting Ukraine, whether it be with direct weaponry or, for a country like Ireland that is neutral, supporting it in other ways, and that has its costs. I saw Cyprus use the phrase "a mature negotiating box" in terms of the kind of indicative figures. How big is this negotiating box? Does the ambassador think it will be possible to bring countries like Hungary on board, countries that have historically been a little recalcitrant in dealing with EU partners and have sometimes voted against or opted out? How confident is the ambassador that we can get an agreement? How close is Cyprus to having a figure in the negotiating box that it can put forward within the term of the Presidency?

I thank the Deputy. The Cypriot Presidency will work constructively with member states and the European Parliament to conclude these negotiations. We are committed to a balanced and forward-looking budget that enhances the Union's capacity to respond to geopolitical challenges, as the Deputy said, supports strategic investment and reflects the priorities of all member states. The last part is important for the Deputy's question, that it supports the priorities of all member states. Without naming any member state, the Deputy will be aware that we have difficulties in agreeing on things. The Cypriot Presidency, and I heard our minister for European affairs say this, will negotiate with everyone. We will have this negotiating tool to find common ground. At the end of the day, if there is not political will from everyone, we will not find it, but our job with the Presidency is to negotiate with all member states to try to find solutions and agree on a balanced budget.

Is this something that can be finished within the term of the Cypriot Presidency, or will Cyprus advise Ireland to continue?

Yes, we will do our best. We will come out with figures, but Ireland will have to. This is also the institutional cycle. Ireland will have to take over and finish it, because that is the institutional cycle. It is not a matter of anything else.

I also want to respond to the member of the committee who said we have elections in Cyprus. Cyprus has a presidential system. We will have parliamentary elections in May, but as we have a presidential system, the Government will not change. In that sense, we will have stability for the next six months, concerning who will be in the Government and who will chair the Council meetings during the Presidency.

On security, allowing for the neutrality of various states, one of Cyprus's priorities was defence readiness and preparedness and the ability to act independently. That was set out between July and December, looking at how to handle threats ranging from geopolitical tensions to climate issues and so on. Has it had to change or shift slightly after the US Administration's most recent comments about Greenland? If so, how much? I know the ambassador has to answer sensitively, but does he think Europe should just show strength, but bide its time, because these things may pass?

The Presidency has an institutional role to guide and has tried to find a common position that all 27 members states will support. Trust me that the whole administration is watching carefully what is happening across the Atlantic and we will also try to navigate that to have a common position in the EU. We will start tomorrow with the extraordinary European Council and I am sure our leaders will stay long enough to find a common position.

It is difficult not to bring up the present circumstances, but the ambassador has given the answer to that and it is somewhat that we await the outworkings and what Donald Trump actually intends to do.

There are huge issues across Europe. We have all talked about the particular issues, including accession countries, some of whom believe they have not had a fair dig, for want of a better term, in the recent past. There are the issues caused by the Russian invasion that meant Ukraine and Moldova were put into what was seen as a priority position. Actions by Georgia have also not necessarily been useful from the point of view of progressing along that line. What is the ambassador's view on the expansion of the European Union?

Cyprus has been at the coalface of migration. When I visited Cyprus, some of the politicians spoke about migration as a weapon. They believe it is used to a degree by the Turks. Sinn Féin has a view about the EU asylum pact. It certainly does not suit Ireland with its particular issues of partition and the common travel area, and it is just not fit for purpose. What are the ambassador's views on finding a means to deal with this difficult issue, Cyprus's particular situation and where we go from there?

I thank the Deputy for the question. The Cypriot Presidency is very much aware of the exceptions Ireland has to the migration pact. We are fully aware of and have full respect for that.

Second, my country has been a victim of the use of migration as a tool. A certain big neighbour has used the division line to bring in unauthorised, illegal migration as a tool.

The situation has become better in recent years, but this is something to which the Presidency is very much sensitive, and we will try to make sure that migration as a tool for instability in another country is included. The Presidency will make sure that this is addressed in the European Union.

A safer world would mean that less of this would happen anyway. Particular circumstances at the minute, even the cutting of aid by America and others, do not help in that they unsettle the world further. What is Mr. Telemachou's view on accession and where does he foresee progress on it? What is the Cypriot view on it? If I have time, I will come in for a final, unrelated question.

Sorry. For accession? I did-----

I am asking about the accession countries, progress being made and the Cypriot view, even on the street, on it.

We are very much like Ireland in that we are pro-enlargement. We are ready. We also have in our priorities to start drafting the accession treaty with Montenegro. We know there are some countries that are not as enthusiastic as us to start doing that. We will try to guide our way through the Presidency to make as much progress as possible because enlargement is an excellent tool for bringing these countries into stability and prosperity, like, for example, Cyprus.

The other thing about accession or enlargement is that it has to be on a merit basis. Nobody should feel left behind. This is the general guidance from the Cypriot Presidency. As I mentioned in the beginning, however, none of us should forget that, unlike any other policy, enlargement is an intergovernmental process so it needs complete unanimity.

This is a slightly different question. It is about the importance of what people see of the European Union in relation to both regulation and funding as regards filmmaking. I am talking about the likes of "Saipan", "An Cailín Ciúin" and "Kneecap". The Cypriot Presidency has identified as its cultural priorities Council work on the culture compass and the AgoraEU proposal under the new MMF, as well as the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act and related issues under the AVMSD. Is the ambassador aware what exactly this focus would look like and the exact work that Cyprus would intend to pursue?

I will carefully examine that and come back to the Deputy in writing. Right now, I would not be able to-----

No, that is fair enough. It was a rather unfair question, but I was asked to ask it, so I have asked-----

I will come back to the Deputy in writing. I promise.

I appreciate that.

This might also sound like a trick question but it is not and I am being genuine. Mr. Telemachou talked at the start about the importance of putting people at the centre of things in Europe, but during the short period as regards the structure in relation to your Presidency, how do you actually do that? How do you bring people into the debate? There is the Commission and that whole argument with the EU Parliament and so on. How will the Cypriot Presidency do that? Will there be debates? Will there be structures in relation to this? How do you actually get out from ordinary people those voices that are clearly needed within the European Union?

This is a very important principle of the Presidency, and I know this is also happening now in Ireland as it is preparing for its Presidency tasks. How are these priorities developed? They are developed by listening to people in Europe and people in Cyprus. The minister for Europe and the team she established for creating the priorities were very much engaged with different groups of people, either institutionally or outside institutions, in order that she had what the people wanted most, especially when it comes to the citizen first, not the global issues of defence and all that. Maybe that was not part of the citizens' conventions. All these priorities came out by listening to people in different institutions, in non-institutions, in formal format, in Europe and, especially, in Cyprus, and I know the same is being done now by the team preparing the Irish Presidency.

We had a number of youth groups in recently and they talked about their participation and said they would like to be very much part of the Irish Presidency as to how they feel Europe should develop. Similarly, there are women's groups and so on. Are those the types of forums Cyprus will encourage during the Presidency and try to bring to-----

Yes, absolutely, and we are encouraging this during the Presidency. I am here to present the priorities. This is how we came up with the priorities. We listened to citizens' assemblies in different formats, institutional or non-institutional, and we wrote down their concerns. I know that the team of the Irish Presidency is also following, not an identical but this kind of form of-----

Will those types of participative assemblies happen in Cyprus? Will they happen in Ireland?

Does the Deputy mean during the Presidency or to create the-----

During the Presidency, yes.

No, during the Presidencies, as far as I am aware, there is no time and no capacity for the Presidency to have such assemblies, but this was done before the Presidency to listen to the population, to hear them and to put down in the Presidency their priorities. The population would say what they wanted and this is what came out in the priorities. During the Presidency - as far as I know, at least, but I do not know if my colleagues have heard anything - we would not have in Cyprus any assemblies of people who will be discussing this.

So it is more of an idea that is coming out of the Presidency that this needs to happen if we are to have an inclusive Europe in relation to-----

No, it is not just an idea; it is in practice because this is how the priorities were written. They were written by listening to the citizens. However, the Deputy is asking me whether during the Presidency there are assemblies. There are not because, first of all, I do not think there is the capacity. We need to preside over the different councils, so this idea was very much in action at the process of preparing the priorities.

It is to be hoped it will roll on to the Irish Presidency and so on.

Yes, and, as I said, from what I know, the Irish Presidency team is doing the same.

That is all the contributions from members. Ambassador, I thank you and your team for your positive engagement and your answering and addressing all the questions. Thank you for your time, and we wish you the very best of luck with the Presidency.

I will propose we suspend now in one minute. I will have to step away so I also propose that Deputy Butterly take the Chair for private business. Is that agreed? Agreed. That being the case, we will suspend for five minutes and resume then. Thank you again, ambassador. We will go into private session after this.