Strovolos municipal councillor participates in Young Elected Politicians summit

Strovolos Municipal Councillor and Democratic Alignment official Ari Hapesian represented Cyprus at the European Committee of the Regions' Young Elected Politicians (YEP) Summit 2026. The event brought together elected representatives under the age of 35 from across European Union member states to exchange best practices regarding the role of local government in addressing contemporary societal challenges.

Throughout the summit, participants engaged in discussions focused on critical topics, including green development, sustainable urban mobility, energy transition, housing policy, and digital innovation. The primary goal of these sessions was to identify strategies for enhancing the daily lives of citizens and fostering more resilient local communities within the European framework.

During his interventions, Hapesian specifically addressed the Cyprus issue. He highlighted that 52 years after the 1974 Turkish invasion, a portion of the Republic of Cyprus remains under occupation. He urged the European Union to consistently uphold international law and its fundamental values, emphasizing the necessity of resolving the ongoing occupation as part of a strong and assertive European presence for Cyprus.