The preparatory official talks as Cyprus is counting down to the EU six month rotating Presidency in January are taking President Christodoulides and his deputy minister for Europe from Serbia and Montenegro to Spain and Portugal over the coming week, following his attendance of the Pope’s funeral at the Vatican.
Serbia was the first stop of the official EU Presidency tour and the Iberian trip to Madrid and Lisbon will also be combined with the President’s participation of the European People’s Party (EPP) Congress in Valencia.
He is accompanied by the Deputy Minister of European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, the Director of his Press Office, Victor Papadopoulos and other officials.
Tomorrow at 1300 pm Cyprus time he is scheduled to meet and hold talks in the Spanish capital with PM Pedro Sanchez and around 1430 he will be received for an audience at the Palace with King Felipe, followed by an official luncheon.
In the afternoon, Christodoulides will travel to Lisbon where he will meet Portuguese PM Luis Montenegro on Tuesday morning. A tete a tete will be followed by extended delegation talks.
Following the conclusion of his contacts, the President will return to Spain, this time Valencia, to participate in the EPP Congress.
The President’s contacts in Spain and Portugal will address the priorities of the Cypriot EU Presidency, issues pertaining to the broader European agenda, the Cyprus issue, bilateral relations and regional affairs, focusing on migration and the Middle East.
In Valencia, at the EPP Congress, whose proceedings will commence in the afternoon, elections will be held for the new leadership of the party. In the evening, a dinner will be hosted, attended by leaders of the EPP member countries and the new leadership.
On Wednesday April 30th, the Congress proceedings will continue, with the President delivering his own political intervention. He will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Congress.
