Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-12-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Unemployment rises to 12.1% in the 3rd quarter of 2012

[02] Priorities towards a better Europe met, Labour Ministry says

[03] Cyprus and Slovakia to sign agreement on defence cooperation

[04] Commissioner Fuele: Cyprus EU Presidency was an excellent one

[01] Unemployment rises to 12.1% in the 3rd quarter of 2012

According to the results of the Labour Force Survey, which is carried out in accordance with a European Union Regulation, the unemployment rate for men was 12.3% and 11.8% for women. Unemployment recorded an increase to 12.1% from the previous quarter of 2012, when it was 11.3% (12.1% men, 10.4% women) and from the corresponding quarter of 2011 when it was 7.8% (7.6% men and 7.9% women).

The unemployment rate for young persons aged 15-24 amounted to 26.4% of the labour force of the same age group recording an increase 25.9% from the previous quarter of 2012, and from the corresponding quarter of 2011, 22,2%.

The number of employed persons in Cyprus amounted to 389 thousand (205 thousand men and 184,1 thousand women) and the number of unemployed persons to 53,4 thousand (28,8 thousand men and 24,6 thousand women). The employment rate for persons aged 20-64 was 70.0% (76.3% men and 64.2% women) recording a decrease from the previous quarter of 2012, when it was 70.7% (76.8% men, 65.2% women) and from the corresponding quarter of 2011, when it was 72.7% (79.,4% men and 66.5% women).

[02] Priorities towards a better Europe met, Labour Ministry says

According to the announcement, the Cyprus Presidency and in particular the Labour Ministry has worked to the direction of a better Europe, which was its main motto and in this framework it has done its utmost to promote social cohesion, solidarity, a better Europe which is closer to its neighbors and struggles to bring fiscal consolidation by supporting employment and job creation.

As regards in particular the fields of employment and social policy, the Cypriot Ministry points out that the portfolio was large and the issues to be discussed were numerous and the Cyprus Presidency handled all the matters in success. Some of the priorities in the above fields were enhancing the social cohesion in the EU, creating better jobs and bringing together the social partner organisations, NGOs and local administration in all the procedures that refer to the Europe 2020 strategy.

According to the announcement, the Cyprus Presidency handled a large number of proposals, legislations and directives that have to do with safety and health matters of the EU employees, the posting of the employees abroad, the poverty and social exclusion of the children and youth unemployment. Cyprus an EU member since 2004, held the six-month rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time in July 2012. In January 2013, Ireland will chair the Council.

[03] Cyprus and Slovakia to sign agreement on defence cooperation

Ambassador of Slovakia to Cyprus Anna Turenicova was also present at the meeting. Eliades said he had an interesting meeting with the Minister of Slovakia adding that Glvac is paying Cyprus a visit to meet with members of the Slovak contingent serving with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). He said that at the meeting they had exchanged views on issues of common interest, noting that relations between the two countries are excellent. "In the field of security and defense, we have signed an agreement on the mutual Protection and Exchange of Classified Information, while we are in the process of signing an Agreement on defence cooperation between the two countries," Eliades said.

Cypriot Minister said also that they exchanged views on European issues of common interest, as partners within the EU, adding the Slovak Defence Minister warmly congratulated the Cyprus EU Presidency for the excellent work done during its six-month term. Eliades also said that he briefed the Slovak Minister on the stalemate in the process to solve the Cyprus problem, due to Turkish intransigence as well as Cyprus government's political will and readiness for a solution within the framework of the United Nations resolutions and acquis communautaire".

[04] Commissioner Fuele: Cyprus EU Presidency was an excellent one

I n addition, he said that the conclusions of the General Affairs Council have also been an achievement, noting that in general they reaffirm the EU commitment to enlargement as a key policy of the EU and in specific they create conditions to maintain the momentum of enlargement and even strengthen this momentum next year by giving clear perspectives to candidate and aspirant countries on how and when to move to the next stage in the accession process. He pointed out that the cooperation with the Cyprus EU Presidency was "very positive and constructive". Fuele stressed that "this was an excellent Presidency which had put enlargement again high on the agenda and delivered on it".

As regards EU - Turkey relations during the Irish Presidency, the Commissioner told CNA that "all elements are in place to create a new momentum in EU-Turkey relations". "Now both sides need to make every effort for this to become a reality and to sustain such momentum through concrete steps", he concluded.

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