Nicosia: The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, is scheduled to visit Nicosia on Monday as part of his ongoing meetings with heads of state and government from European Union member states.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Costa is set to meet with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on Monday afternoon, marking part of his tour of European capitals. Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis noted that discussions will center on the key priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. The agenda will also cover important issues such as defense and security, competitiveness, and the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034.
Additionally, the Spokesperson mentioned that the two Presidents will discuss the informal European Council that Cyprus will organize in April, the first since the country’s accession to the European Union. President Christodoulides is also expected to update President Costa on recent developments concerning the Cyprus issue, particularly ahead of a joint meeting in New York with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of the northern third of the island. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, a resolution has not been reached. The most recent negotiations, held in July 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended without agreement.
A second informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format took place in New York on July 16-17, 2025, following an initial meeting in Geneva in March. Another meeting is expected later this year to continue discussions on agreed initiatives, with Guterres emphasizing a commitment to ongoing dialogue. He also announced plans to meet with Cyprus leaders during the General Assembly high-level week in September.
The two sides are actively discussing unresolved issues, including the opening of crossing points and a solar energy installation in the buffer zone. They have also agreed to cooperate on cultural artifact exchanges, while Maria Angela Holgun, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, continues her mediation efforts.
The European Commission has appointed Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to assist in the settlement process, working closely with Holgun.