Christodoulides Sends Letters to Guterres and Leyen

According to the reports, Christodoulides requested that Turkey's implementation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative be terminated in his letter to Guterres and proposed the establishment of a special and central organizational structure for maritime transport in the European Commission in his letter to Ursula von der Leyen.

The reports state that Christodoulides requested from Secretary-General Guterres that, in the event of the revival of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Turkey's implementation be terminated and that equal treatment be provided to all ships carrying grain.

According to the newspaper, Guterres mentioned in his response dated September 13, 2023, that efforts to revive the initiative continue and that he is ready to offer the participation of Cyprus ships to the involved parties. He also highlighted the initiative's contribution to world food security by allowing the safe export of 33 million metric tons of food from three ports in Ukraine and reducing world food prices.

Christodoulides's letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the establishment of a special and central organizational structure for maritime transport in the European Commission. He emphasized that maritime transport constitutes the backbone of European and global trade, with 80% of EU external trade conducted by sea and 40% of the world's shipping fleet under the control of EU shipowners.

Christodoulides further emphasized the need for greater collaboration among different aspects of maritime policy, increased attention to maritime transport within the EU, and the adoption of a comprehensive approach for maritime policy. He also suggested creating a long-term and sustainable environment for maritime transport, enabling it to formulate strategic and investment planning.

Christodoulides proposed that all political units within the EU related to maritime transport should be subject to a special and central structure until the next meeting of the European Commission in 2024.