Nicosia: The European Union remains fully committed to supporting the UN-led process and the efforts of the UN Secretary-General on the Cyprus issue, stated Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms and EU Special Representative.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Fitto made these remarks in a post on X following his meetings in Cyprus with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot community leader Tufan Erhrman. Fitto expressed that it is both an honor and a responsibility to serve as the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus. He emphasized that this visit to the island, his first in the role, was primarily to listen and reaffirm the EU's commitment to the United Nations' efforts.
Fitto also conveyed his anticipation of returning to Cyprus to continue his engagement with all stakeholders. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey's invasion and occupation of the northern third of the island. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, an agreement has remained elusive, with the most recent negotiations at Crans-Montana in July 2017 ending without resolution due to Turkish intransigence.
Recent developments have seen informal meetings in 2025, with plans for a broader-format meeting as the term of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres approaches its conclusion. Mara Angela Holgun, Guterres' Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is actively working to engage the involved parties in renewed discussions.