Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-10-25

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] EP resolution calls for increased information to its citizens

[02] Cyprus hosts European Tourism Forum

[03] Increased consular protection for EU citizens approved

[04] EU agrees on directive for asylum seekers reception

[01] EP resolution calls for increased information to its citizens

The resolution points out that the EU citizens still do not benefit fully from the single market. It also stresses the difficulties of registering cars abroad, opening bank accounts or having professional qualifications recognised and blames these problems on member states` reluctance to implement EU rules swiftly, coordinate with each other and inform citizens of their rights.

Rapporteur Regina Bastos said that "in certain areas of our daily lives, so many simple things are still very complex, hard and expensive, such as the reimbursement of medical expenses after a temporary stay in another EU country, the opening of a bank account by an Erasmus student, or the recognition of qualifications and of the car number plate in another member state".

[02] Cyprus hosts European Tourism Forum

The two-day Forum was organized for the first time in 2002 and has become an important annual institution for European tourism. The promotion of Europe as a tourist destination and facilitating tourist flows to Europe, mainly through better visa processing, are the two main subjects of this year's Forum.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Forum, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Neoclis Sylikiotis stressed the importance of tourism in economic growth and employment in Europe.

"The Cypriot Presidency supports all efforts and initiatives to enhance competitiveness and ensure the viability and sustainability of European tourism to the benefit of the citizens. At the same time, it shares the goal of keeping Europe at the top of the international tourist map," said the Minister.

[03] Increased consular protection for EU citizens approved

The proposal was adopted by 596 votes in favour, 66 against and 12 abstentions. According to the proposal, the diplomatic and consular services of all EU member states must give any EU citizen seeking help abroad the same protection that they give their own nationals. The European Parliament also calls for the EU delegations to have a key role in strengthening protection for EU nationals in non-EU countries.

Edit Bauer, MEP responsible for drafting the proposal, said after the vote that "this proposal is an excellent example to show that more Europe does not necessarily mean more bureaucracy or more Brussels. More Europe could mean more help for European citizens who are in need, more protection for those unrepresented citizens in third countries who find themselves in precarious or crisis situations".

[04] EU agrees on directive for asylum seekers reception

The political agreement, which fully reflects the result of negotiations with the European Parliament, was adopted during the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg under the Cyprus EU Presidency.

Once formally adopted, member states will need to transpose the new provisions into national law within two years. Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom are not bound by the directive. The amended reception conditions directive will provide better and more harmonised standards of living to applicants for international protection throughout the European Union, irrespective in which member state the application has been made.

Particularly important are the new rules concerning detention and the better standards for vulnerable persons including (unaccompanied) minors. Member states that wish to do so can provide for more favourable rules.

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