President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday met with newly elected president of the European Council Antonio Costa, who was in Cyprus for a working visit.
Costa expressed his support for a solution to the Cyprus problem, and expressed his hope that both communities in Cyprus could achieve a positive result.
The two met at the presidential palace where they discussed the Cyprus problem, the wars across the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as plans for the EU’s future including defence, energy and competitiveness.
They then toured the walled city of Nicosia and the Green Line, and had a working lunch before Costa left Cyprus.
Christodoulides welcomed Costa, expressing his keenness to discuss “how we can be more effective in the European Council, how we can have more strategic talks, instead of spending time on European conclusions. I am sure you are well aware of what I am talking about.”
He expressed to Costa his confidence over his EU Council presidency.
“You are visiting Cyprus in a very important year. 2024 marks 50 years since the illegal Turkish invasion of 1974,” the president said.
“The year 1974 also marks the 20-year anniversary of Cyprus’ accession to the EU. It was Cyprus’ greatest success since its independence in 1960.”
Costa thanked Christodoulides conceding “we’re living through challenging times, but we have a very ambitious agenda and together we will set it in motion. That’s why I’m here.
“I look forward to your presidency in 2026. Together we will be stronger.”
Christodoulides said he would be briefing Costa over his recent meeting with UNSG Antonio Guterres “your very good friend”.
“The European Council has an important role to play in these difficult times. You’re visiting Cyprus, an EU member state but you see what’s happening in parts of our region in the Middle East, as well as what’s happening in Ukraine.”
“We have to work so that the EU is more strategically autonomous and when we refer to this, we don’t mean only defence and security but energy and competitiveness for which we have to take measures.”
Responding to a question during the tour, Christodoulides said “we await developments” over the EU’s involvement in the Cyprus problem.
“The presentation of the commissioners-designate to the European Commission is starting. Once this process is completed, the new president will take over on December 1 and what needs to be done by the EU will be done.”
Christodoulides said he had written to Guterres and expressed his readiness to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar as soon as possible, with positive results.
The meeting relates to a meeting aimed at discussing new crossing points, which was discussed during the recent dinner the two had with Guterres in New York.
Christodoulides specified that both at his meeting with Tatar, and a five-member meeting, “what interests us most and where we concentrate our efforts on is not only the UN and EU, but the permanent members of the Security Council for positive results.”
