President holds talks with EU commissioners on Cyprus problem and migration

The Cyprus problem, the migration issue and current European developments were discussed on Monday at the meeting between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides and the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Promotion of the European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, at the Presidential Palace.

In a different meeting, issues concerning the European Union's budget and the European People's Party (EPP) were discussed earlier on Monday at the meeting between President Christodoulides and the European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn.

After the meeting with the President of the Republic, Hahn did not make any statements and subsequently met with the Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos at the Ministry.

Replying to journalists' questions as he was leaving the Presidential Palace, President Christodoulides said the meeting with Schinas and Hahn was "very good". He added that with Hahn they discussed issues related to the European Union's budget, as well as issues concerning the European People's Party, as Hahn is Vice President of the EPP. "He has been Commissioner for many years, we have a friendly relationship since my term as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the same is the case with Schinas," he added.

He noted that he and Schinas spoke mainly about the migration issue, noting that "we see the EU as a partner in this effort to tackle this problem and of course, we also spoke specifically about our proposal for a more active EU involvement in the Cyprus problem."

After the meeting, Schinas said that he and President Christodoulides have known each other for decades, adding that their careers are more or less similar and he had the opportunity today to see him for the first time in his new capacity.

"To make an overall review of all current European developments and of course, we talked about the Cyprus problem and the migration issue, which we will deal with later today in the meeting with the Interior Minister and the ministers who have to do with the portfolio of the European way of life," he added.

Replying to a question about the parliamentary elections held yesterday in Greece, the President said that "I contacted the Greek Prime Minister to convey my congratulations on the election results."

He added that Mitsotakis will receive the relevant mandate from the President of the Hellenic Republic today and will announce his decisions himself. "It is not appropriate for me to speak on behalf of the Greek Prime Minister," he said.