Anastasiades welcomes agreement on Brexit

President Nicos Anastasiades has welcomed the achievement of the agreement in principle between the United Kingdom and the European Union on the text of the withdrawal agreement of the UK from the EU, as well as the outline of the political declaration on the future relationship, and expresses satisfaction with the final result, which secures the continuation of the acquis communautaire in the areas of the Sovereign British Bases in Cyprus.

In a written statement, President Anastasiades said that “the withdrawal of the UK from the EU is one of the greatest challenges the EU has faced in its long history, and has been addressed with the display of unity and solidarity among the 27 member states.”

“I express my satisfaction over the fact that the withdrawal agreement will allow the smooth and orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU, offering the necessary legal assurance to the European citizens and enterprises,” he notes.

He adds that “an equally important fact is that the withdrawal agreement paves the way for determining the future relationship of the EU with the UK,” noting that “the Republic of Cyprus, which maintains close historical, economic and social ties with the UK, wishes the closes possible relationship to the benefit of the two countries, and will strive within the Council in this direction.”

“The withdrawal agreement involves, as an integral part, a protocol on the British Bases in Cyprus, after many months of negotiations between the Republic of Cyprus, assisted by the European Commission, and the UK,” he says.

President Anastasiades expresses “full support to the final result, which secures the unobstructed continuation of the implementation of the acquis communautaire in the areas of the Bases, the specific sectors provided for in Protocol 3 of the Accession Act of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU.”

“I am absolutely convinced that through arrangements agreed on in principle, the new Protocol will fully safeguard the legal rights and interests of the Cypriot and European citizens living and working in the British Bases, as well as those of the Republic of Cyprus itself, with the continuation of the acquis in the British Bases, which was right from the start a primary objective of the government,” he concludes.