CoR President Markku Markkula and EPP/CoR Group 1st Vice President Eleni Locaidou met with Averof Neofytou, leader of the Democratic Rally in Nicosia, Cyprus today.

EPP family politicians have discussed how creating innovation incubators between the both communities living in Cyprus could be a very concrete way to overcome the lack of mutual communication and help boosting growth and jobs in the country. Politicians debated in particular young entrepreneurship and startups initiatives and some concrete ideas which Nicosia is already implementing.

The meeting took place ahead of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) plenary session held in Nicosia, Cyprus, on 18 and 19 January 2016.

The plenary will discuss thematic report drawn up by the new ARLEM Commission for Sustainable Territorial Development, on employment and territorial development in the Mediterranean region prepared by rapporteur Eleni Loukaidou.

The plenary session will also provide an opportunity to discuss the ongoing revision of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the management of migration in Mediterranean region, with the follow-up of ARLEM's report on this issue, as well as the adoption of ARLEM's Action plan for 2016.