Your Excellency President Anastasiadis,
Your Excellency Ms Anastasiadou,
Captain Adami,
Mr Brodtmann,
Mr Dose,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg I am pleased to welcome you to my home city.

I am delighted that your trip to Germany includes Hamburg, even more so as we have a great deal in common. Of course, the Cypriot shipping tradition is a story that is far longer and older than ours. And yet, shipping and logistics are very important to the overall economy of both Cyprus and the city state of Hamburg. One could even say that having a port in the centre of the city is part of our genetic make-up - just as it is for the country and people of Cyprus, who look back on thousands of years as traders and seafarers.

Hamburg is one of the major hubs for the transport of raw materials and finished goods to North and South America, the Pacific region and, above all, to North and East Europe. But it is almost always the case that where we benefit from globalization, we are also exposed to keener competition. Our Hamburg-based shipping companies, in particular, report intense competition with other centres of shipping. One of the lessons to be learnt from globalization is that there are two sides to the coin - new opportunities and new competitors.

But Hamburg is more than trade and logistics. Hamburg is therefore not only proud of its ships and foreign trade, but has also always seen itself as a pivotal place for people and ideas, for research, science and technology. Therefore we see ourselves as, first and foremost, Europeans. In the fine tradition of merchant shipping and the free exchange and movement of goods, services and people, we place our faith in international cooperation in Europe.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have not yet left the financial, banking and national debt crises behind. But the fact that we in Europe have so far been able to respond to these crises, and that the worst-case scenarios for the common market and euro zone did not materialize, is a success that owes much to European solidarity. I say this fully aware that the ongoing challenges involve huge sacrifices, especially on the part of the ordinary people in South European countries.

But financial consolidation requires more than just belt-tightening. Lasting reforms are indispensable. Those have been carried out in Cyprus.

I am convinced that is a key factor for the recovery of your economy and will be the basis for Cyprus’ return to the international money markets and the lifting of the current controls - which, so we hope, will happen by the end of this year. And sovereign debt has already seen a huge fall in the mark-up for risk.

Writing in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, you yourself, President Anastasiadis, described the economic recovery in the following terms: tourism, shipping and the service sector have demonstrated their impressive resilience.” Europe congratulates Cyprus on this success. Moreover, reserves of natural gas off the coast are a hopeful sign that the energy sector will likewise gain fresh strength. Both Cyprus and Europe would benefit from that.

In times of crisis, when the debate about the way ahead often becomes confrontational, Europe will draw even closer together.  
 
We need to strengthen Europe, because unless we are united, we will not master the major challenges in the 21st century and succeed in improving our lives. This also applies to the subject of unemployment, especially young people without a job. I am very gratified to hear Chancellor Angela Merkel say that Germany wishes to help and is currently engaged in talks with Cyprus, and other countries in the programme, about funding small and medium-sized enterprises, because this is one key to a solution.

And it applies to the issue of reunification of Cyprus, as the gathering momentum after all these years offers reason to be hopeful. Who else but a troika of Greece, Turkey and Cyprus - all embedded in a common and, hopefully, helpful Europe would be able to find good answers to this long-standing problem?

Europe has the strength to secure growth, employment and permanent prosperity in the member states. Just as the European Community has brought us all the longest period of peace since the middle of the 20th century.

President Anastasiadis, on behalf of the Senate of Hamburg, I once again cordially welcome you and your delegation and hope that you have a pleasant stay in our city.

Thank you very much.

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