Welcoming Cyprus President Demetris Christofias in his capacity as President of the Council of the European Union, GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer said that the group was pleased that "for the first time in the history of the European Union the person at its helm is a member of our political family."

She told President Christofias that Cyprus was taking over the presidency at a time when the Union was facing huge challenges - "it could determine whether the EU actually has a future, or - and that it would be an historic defeat - if it will just become a footnote in history."

She welcomed the fact that the presidency had made clear that it wanted to focus on the "day-to-day lives of ordinary people. This is the first time I have heard this from a Council President," she said.

Speaking about the euro, the stability of the euro and the need for a eurozone and European Union that works, Gabi Zimmer stressed that "the euro was only an instrument and that people in the EU cannot suffer hunger pangs in the name of the euro".

She called on President Christofias to do something to ensure people are no longer afraid. "Fear is the worst counsellor for democracy", she said, referring to recent elections in Greece and the referendum in Ireland "where people were afraid to make the democratic choices that they thought were right."

To conclude, she said "my group shares your priorities and will support you".

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20   

David Lundy +32 485 50 58 12

gabrielle.kavanagh@europarl.europa.eu  

david.lundy@europarl.europa.eu

European United Left / Nordic Green Left

European Parliamentary Group

www.guengl.eu