Cyprus' accession to the European Union is the most important legacy to be delivered to future generations, President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, said in her message on the 20th anniversary of Cyprus' accession to the EU on Wednesday.

"We are standing on the right side of history in the face of every encroachment and with the shield of European principles and values we ask our European partners to do the same for our country and to put words into practice", she added, noting that the Cyprus problem is a European issue and Europe will never be whole as long as Cyprus is divided.

The President of the Cyprus Parliament also said that no state can face the great challenges alone in a world where everything is changing and nothing is self-evident and a given, noting that "Cyprus has both a voice and a role to play within the EU."

Referring to the role of the Parliament in the European arena Demetriou said that as an equal member state, Cyprus actively participates, shapes policies for the benefit of its citizens, utilizes connections, contacts and every prospect provided by parliamentary diplomacy.

"We are building bridges, we are seeking and playing a leading role in major geopolitical issues, we are facing major challenges together in a spirit of solidarity: migration, energy, health and food crises," she noted.

The President of the Parliament added that on 1 May 2004, the Republic of Cyprus touches upon the great vision, which guarantees a political stature much greater than its longitude and latitude, and guarantees it a place in the European family united by the same principles and universal values of democracy, inclusion, unity, solidarity, respect for human rights, the rule of law and individual freedoms.