European Asylum System A Priority For Cyprus EU Presidency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 23, 2012 -- An official press release issued here on Wednesday, states that Sylikiotis, who was addressing the ‘college’ of Commissioners during a working lunch, said that “achieving the completion of the Common European Asylum System within the timetable given by the Stockholm Programme and the Council’s Conclusions, that is to say by the end of 2012, is high in our priorities”.

He expressed his optimism that the Danish presidency will start negotiations with the European Parliament on the most possible legislative proposals which have been submitted in the context of the second phase of the Asylum System. Sylikiotis further informed the ‘college’ that he has had a first round of talks with the coordinators of the political groups within the LIBE Committee at European Parliament with whom he discussed the progress of the process and exchanged points of view as to what needs to be done in order for completion to be achieved.

He expressed the view that discussions so far have highlighted the need for the coexistence of two basic principles, of community solidarity and mutual trust, which as he pointed out, are key elements to reaching a successful conclusion. “These two principles should be implemented as part of the CEAS in a balanced way, so that each member state’s sensitivities and particular problems are addressed adequately”, he pointed out.

Sylikiotis further said that the Cypriot presidency’s general perception is that negotiations as regards the various aspects of CEAS are proceeding in a constructive way, particularly as regards the directive proposal on reception conditions. He further added that the matter will be high in the agenda of both the Informal SCIFA as well as the Informal Ministerial Council due to take place in Cyprus, in July.CNA
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