EU official addresses European Parliament on geopolitical challenges

On Tuesday, Marilena Raouna, the Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus, addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg on behalf of the EU Council. The discussion, titled 'EU Governance under pressure – institutional responses to global challenges,' focused on the bloc's need for closer cooperation amid a changing security environment. Raouna emphasized that EU enlargement remains a strategic investment and a key tool for foreign policy. She highlighted the EU's efforts to support Ukraine over the past four years as an example of effective crisis management. Regarding defense, she noted the adoption of the SAFE instrument as a significant step toward improving Europe's readiness. Additionally, she discussed the economic consequences of the conflict in Iran and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to reliability and internal cohesion. The Minister acknowledged that building consensus among the 27 member states is a time-consuming but essential process.