Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry, Marios Panayides, has supported the strengthening of transatlantic relations through a positive trade agenda.

The Cypriot official represented Cyprus at the EU Council of Foreign Affairs that met in Brussels on Thursday in the form of Ministers of Trade.

According to an official press release, during the official discussions, EU Ministers exchanged views on the future of EU trade policy with particular emphasis on current negotiations and discussed the state of trade relations with the US.

Ιn his intervention on the future of EU trade policy and current negotiations, Panayides highlighted the role of trade policy in strengthening economic ties with partners and regions of geostrategic and geoeconomic importance.

During the discussion that followed on the trade relations with the US, Panayides highlighted the fact that the US is a strategic partner and the EU's largest partner in terms of trade and investment and called for the strengthening transatlantic relations through a positive trade agenda and expanding areas of cooperation.

He also supported efforts to safeguard the EU's interests in the existing trade disputes with the US and the technological and economic upgrading of the EU's global competitiveness.