Solution of Cyprus issue needs patience, Europarliament president tells Athens conference

Replying to a press question on the restart of negotiations between Cyprus and Turkey, he said that they must start immediately and called on the Turkish side to take a clear and constructive position.
On the energy issue, Schulz said

that Greece is playing a very important role in Cyprus’ growth. He added that in the next twenty to thirty years Greece and Cyprus have a very strong potential of becoming energy suppliers.
Schulz addressed the conference – organized jointly by all Parliament press offices in southern European countries – on proposals to deal with the crisis.
Actions he proposed addressed youth unemployment, small and medium-sized entreprises (SMEs), cooperation with Northern African countries and the union of banks.
Speaking about enterprises in particular, Schulz said that a credit programme and an investment strategy were vital for SMEs, which affected unemployment. A major problem faced by SMEs were lack of funds, as the European Central Bank loans carried an interest rate of 0.5 percent, and banks did not supply businesses with cash but focused on speculation.
Among the measures he proposed were completing a viable bank union so that banks can salvage other banks and break the link between banks and state loans.
There must be an end to mistrust and trust be restored, Schulz said, and added that violence is a sign of instability; people don’t vote for extremists because they are neonazis but because they’re desperate, he noted. Commenting on politicians criticising the EU, he said that European countries would not be stronger standing by themselves but would face tougher competition.

source: ΑΜΝΑ