Cyprus parliament speaker addresses COSAC plenary on Mediterranean crisis

On Monday, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus Annita Demetriou addressed the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for European Affairs (COSAC) via teleconference. The meeting was held virtually due to flight disruptions caused by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, rather than security concerns within Cyprus. Demetriou urged the European Union to engage in urgent diplomacy to promote de-escalation and protect civilians in the region. She emphasized the necessity of safeguarding energy supply chains amidst the current instability. The speaker highlighted the challenges posed by misinformation and social media, calling for responsible political action. Furthermore, she confirmed that Cyprus is fully implementing its national 'Estia' plan to facilitate the evacuation of European and third-country nationals. She noted that Cyprus remains committed to serving as a pillar of stability while the government continues to coordinate evacuation efforts.